Habitat for Humanity turns home ownership dreams into a reality
Four Calgary working families officially and proudly took possession of brand-new Bowness homes Oct. 19, an achievement made possible through their own hard work and the help of Habitat for Humanities.
“It’s because of people like you that my sons and I have, not just a house, but a home,” Annette, a single mom with two sons, told Habitat officials, sponsors and media gathered at the official dedication ceremony for a new fourplex. The new homes were completed with 500 hours of work contributed by each of the four families.
The Government of Alberta contributed more than $300,000 to the Bowness fourplex project and Finance Minister Joe Ceci was there to congratulate the four families for their hard work and determination.
“Each family has worked to build their new home and will be able to purchase it with an affordable mortgage,” Ceci told the gathering.
“Affordable home ownership builds long-term stability and independence, empowering families to invest in their futures, and creating lasting benefits for their children.”
Habitat’s mission is to assist working families whose lives are adversely impacted by high and constantly rising housing prices, said Laura Dickson, director of families and volunteers for Habitat in Southern Alberta.
“Home prices in Calgary are not exactly affordable for people in the $40,000 to $60,000 (annual earnings) range,” Dickson said. “If you have two or three kids, you’re not putting a heck of a lot aside (for a down payment).”
Without the ability to build large down payments, she said, “banks are not approving people for mortgages.”
Habitat aims to help families escape the unstable existence — including constant uncertainty and frequent forced moves — that results from having to spend more than 40 per cent of their income for shelter and that often forces them to choose between
Each family has worked to build their new home and will be able to purchase it with an affordable mortgage.
paying the rent and buying groceries.
Habitat provides zero-interest mortgages with no down payment and maximum monthly payments fixed at 25 per cent of family income.
Habitat’s Southern Alberta branch was founded in 1990 and has so far built more than 230 homes in the region.
By repurchasing and reselling Habitat homes when the owners move, Dickson said, Habitat has helped some 300 Southern Alberta families become homeowners.