Released on May 2, 2014
Four families in Saskatoon will soon have a place of their own to call home, thanks to Habitat for Humanity and their community partners. The province provided $200,000 in funding through Saskatchewan Housing Corporation to the project which will provide new homes for four Saskatoon Habitat partner families. Rounding out the support is some construction help from a group of hardworking high school students.Saskatoon Sutherland MLA Paul Merriman attended the sod turning for a four-plex located at 119 Avenue S South on behalf of Social Services Minister and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation June Draude. The project is a four-unit, raised bungalow, multi-family home with fully developed basements. Each home is approximately 1,200 square feet over both levels and has three bedrooms.
“We are very pleased to help Habitat for Humanity provide safe and affordable housing for partner families in this community,” Merriman said. “All across this province we’re seeing businesses and individuals joining forces with Habitat for Humanity to help families in their communities become homeowners. Initiatives like this one support our Plan for Growth, which is committed to ensuring there is an adequate supply of safe and affordable housing across Saskatchewan.”
“Habitat for Humanity Saskatoon is really excited about starting work on this site and the others that will follow thanks to the Government of Saskatchewan, our donors and volunteers,” Habitat Saskatoon Chief Executive Officer Barb Cox-Lloyd said. “Particular thanks to Prairie Spirit School Division and the students at Walter W. Brown School in Langham for the work they have done and are continuing to do on this four-unit build. Four modules were started at the beginning of the school year and they will be transported to this site once we have the basement ready. We believe that involving students in building homes for low-income working families provides them with an opportunity to build a stronger community.”
In the 2014-15 Budget, the province committed an additional $750,000 through the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation to help build an additional 12 new Habitat for Humanity homes throughout Saskatchewan. This brings the government’s commitment to Habitat for Humanity to a total of $7.85 million since March 2009.
This funding has supported builds in 10 communities across the province including Regina, Prince Albert, Lloydminster, Saskatoon, Nipawin, Yorkton, Moose Jaw, Humboldt, Duck Lake and Fort Qu’Appelle.
Since the funding of these units in March 2014 at $50,000 per home, Saskatchewan Housing Corporation has increased the funding level to $65,000 per home.
In Saskatoon alone, the province has played a role in building the homeownership dreams for 11 families. Currently, nine Habitat homes are under construction in Saskatoon, including the four homes located at 119 Avenue S South.
Each selected Habitat partner family contributes 500 partnering hours to build their home and other Habitat for Humanity homes. This assists in the development of the Habitat for Humanity community and their neighbourhood.
To learn more about Habitat for Humanity and their work across Saskatchewan, visit www.habitat.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Tara Gereaux
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3610
Email: tara.gereaux@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-519-7835