Homeownership Dreams Come True for Three Regina Families

Released on February 24, 2015

Three local Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) partner families received keys to their new homes at a special ceremony held today.  The Habitat Plains project, located at 4102 - 3rd Avenue North, consists of nine homes for Regina families with low incomes.  Of the nine families who will call Habitat Plains home, these three families are the first to celebrate their new surroundings.  The remaining six homes are under construction.

 The Government of Saskatchewan, through Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, contributed a total of $700,000 in financial assistance to support the entire Habitat Plains project.  Each of the nine homes received $50,000 in provincial funding and $250,000 was contributed to Habitat for the acquisition of the land through Saskatchewan Housing Corporation’s Summit Action Fund.

Additional funding was provided by Mosaic Potash Corporation, Greystone Managed Investments, Enbridge Pipelines Inc., Northridge Developments Corporation and the City of Regina.

“Our government is proud of how residents and other community partners come together to help their neighbours and build stronger communities,” Regina Dewdney MLA Gene Makowsky said on behalf of Social Services Minister and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation Donna Harpauer.  “As a result, these three families will now be able to thrive in Regina and prepare for an exciting future.  Our goal is to keep Saskatchewan strong and moving forward, and partnerships like this one are making that happen.”

“Too many families have their hopes and dreams sidetracked because of the high cost of rent, and houses in Regina are making traditional homeownership unattainable,” Habitat for Humanity Regina CEO Kelly Holmes-Binns said.  “Key ceremonies are an opportunity for us to stop and reflect on our impact in the community.  We are so pleased to see three families move into Habitat Plains.  These are safe, decent homes for them to call home as they build brighter futures.”

Each of the three homes completed in the first phase of this nine-unit townhouse-style condominium development is approximately 1,674 square feet or 155 square metres across all three floors.  This total includes the fully developed basements, main floor and second storey.

Since March 2009, the province’s commitment to Habitat for Humanity totals $7.85 million and includes $600,000 from the Summit Action Fund.  This funding supports builds in 12 communities across the province including Duck Lake, Fort Qu’Appelle, Humboldt, Lloydminster, Melfort, Moose Jaw, Nipawin, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, Weyburn and Yorkton.

Saskatchewan Housing Corporation now provides $65,000 per home in funding for homes starting construction.  This is up from the $50,000 per home which was provided up to March 2014.

Habitat’s innovative delivery model provides opportunities for families to stabilize their housing, and to achieve their homeownership goals.  Each partner family selected by Habitat contributes 500 partnering hours in building their home, or other Habitat homes.  This assists in the development of the Habitat community and the 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:

Linda Saliken
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0246
Email: linda.saliken@gov.sk.ca