Homeownership Dream Comes True for Four Saskatoon Families

Released on November 27, 2015

Four local Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) partner families received keys to their new homes at a special ceremony held today.  Habitat and Prairie Spirit School Division partnered together to engage and train students from Walter W. Brown School in Langham in various construction trades.  The four homes were built in Langham and moved to the Saskatoon site at 119 Avenue S South, where each home was finished.

The Government of Saskatchewan, through Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, contributed a total of $200,000 ($50,000 for each home) in financial assistance to support the project.  Additional funding was provided by the City of Saskatoon and Mosaic Potash Corporation.

“These four homes demonstrate what can be achieved when we work together as a team,” Saskatoon Greystone MLA Rob Norris said on behalf of Social Services Minister and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation Donna Harpauer.  “Initiatives like Habitat for Humanity support the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth and our commitment to providing safe and affordable housing to those who need it.”

“Habitat for Humanity Saskatoon is thrilled to dedicate these homes for our four partner families, thanks to the Government of Saskatchewan, our donors and volunteers,” Habitat for Humanity CEO Barb Cox-Lloyd said.  “Particular thanks to the Prairie Spirit School Division and the students and staff at Walter W. Brown School in Langham for their work.  We believe that involving volunteers in building homes for low-income working families provides them with an opportunity to build a stronger community.”

Each of the four 3-bedroom homes is approximately 620 square feet or 58 square metres on each level.  The four-plex is a raised bungalow style allowing for a full- height finished basement.

Since March 2009, the province’s overall commitment to Habitat totals $7.85 million.

This funding supports builds in 13 communities across the province including Duck Lake, Fort Qu’Appelle, Humboldt, Lloydminster, Melfort, Moose Jaw, Nipawin, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, Weyburn, and Yorkton.

When the province first funded Habitat, the funding provided was $50,000 per home. In March 2014 the province increased the amount of funding by $15,000 to a total of $65,000 per home.

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.

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization working toward a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live.  The organization mobilizes volunteers and partners to build homes that provide families of low-income with access to affordable homeownership.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity and their work across Saskatchewan, visit www.habitat.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Leya Moore
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3610
Email: leya.moore@gov.sk.ca