Homeownership Dreams Come True for a Moose Jaw Family

Released on November 15, 2016

A family in Moose Jaw are becoming homeowners for the first time after receiving keys to their new Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) home at 810 Ominica Street East.

The province, through Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, provided $65,000 in financial support to Habitat to help build the 1,000 square foot (93 square metres) four-bedroom bungalow.  Additional funding for the home was provided by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Foundation ($13,000), Genworth Canada’s Meaning of Hope program ($5,000) and City of Moose Jaw ($5,000).

“Homeownership opportunities do not just happen – often there are many hands involved in making a family’s dream of owning a home become a reality,” Social Services Minister and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation Tina Beaudry-Mellor said.  “Our government is committed to supporting families in the greatest need of housing, and working with our partners to create homes that are safe, affordable and comfortable.  We are pleased to support this family to experience homeownership and continue to keep Saskatchewan strong.”

“Habitat for Humanity Regina is excited to welcome this family to their new home,” Habitat for Humanity Regina CEO Kelly Holmes-Binns said.  “The success of our Moose Jaw chapter enables us as an organization to further our mission in Saskatchewan by offering local Moose Jaw families opportunities into homeownership.  We believe everyone deserves the right to have a safe, decent, and affordable place to live and want to congratulate the Moose Jaw chapter on a job well done for our newest Habitat family.”

Since March 2009, the Government of Saskatchewan has committed nearly $9 million to Habitat Saskatchewan chapters for low- to moderate-income families across the province.  This funding supports housing for low- to moderate-income families across the province in 13 communities: the Battleford region, Duck Lake, Fort Qu’Appelle, Humboldt, Lloydminster, Melfort, Moose Jaw, Nipawin, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, Weyburn and Yorkton.  Of this investment, the province has committed a total of $330,000 for six completed Habitat homes in Moose Jaw.

Habitat’s innovative delivery model provides opportunities for families to stabilize their housing, and to achieve their homeownership goals.  A key component to Habitat’s model is the “Revolving Build Fund” (Build Fund).  Provincial funding, community donations, and private funds are deposited in the Build Fund and used to construct homes.  Upon completion, an affordable no-interest mortgage is provided by Habitat to partner families with mortgage payments going back into the Build Fund for future builds.

Each partner family selected by Habitat contributes 500 partnering hours in building their home, or other Habitat homes.

Habitat is a non-profit organization working toward a world where everyone has a safe 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 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