Six families pick up keys for new Habitat homes
Six Calgary families now have the affordable homes they need, following completion of a new build in Bowness.
Habitat for Humanity- Southern Alberta recently celebrated that construction is complete on a sixplex in the established northwest Calgary neighbourhood.
The non-profit organization will be busy in Bowness, with a fourplex and three five-plexes planned for the area, as well.
“My children can have stability in their lives and will have a strong start on their journey toward successful living,” said Susan, one of the new homeowners, in a news release. Her last name is withheld by Habitat for privacy purposes.
Homes are purchased through Habitat for Humanity with no down payment, no-interest mortgages and monthly mortgage payments are a maximum of 30 per cent of the buyer’s monthly income. Monthly mortgage payments are then reinvested into the home ownership program to help with future builds.
“At Habitat, we know how difficult it is for families to break into the housing market,” says Gerrad Oishi, president and CEO for Habitat for Humanity. “That’s why we’re committed to working with our community to provide affordable home ownership for families.”
Support is also key. This development received financial contributions from several sources, including Hockey Helps the Homeless, the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, the Government of Alberta, and the Calgary Real Estate Board Charitable Foundation.
There were donations of materials and labour from tradespeople and contractors, as well.
For the CREB Charitable Foundation’s part, it was a $50,000 donation and AREF matched with $50,000 of its own.
“Our realtor members are at the forefront of everything we do and it is great to see their hands-on volunteer hours and our donation make a measurable difference to our community and working families,” says Aneve MacKay-Lyons, manager of CREB Charitable Foundation.
Lori Sigurdson, minister of Seniors and Housing, was on hand at the Bowness event. She says Habitat for Humanity is “about community. Everybody working together to create game-changing opportunities for these families.”
Since the start of 2017, 15 families have become homeowners through Habitat for Humanity-Southern Alberta.