Habitat for Humanity welcomes family into new home - owner says, “It’s a dream come true”
A local family received the keys to their new home on Wednesday, November 7th in an emotional Key Ceremony hosted by Habitat Humanity, in which the organization celebrated the completion of its 7th home in Moose Jaw.
Habitat for Humanity welcomed Kathy Brown and her son Carter into their new home at 1160 1st Avenue NE. To celebrate the occasion, several dignitaries, volunteers, family and friends joined Brown in receiving the keys to her brand-new home. In an emotional presentation, Brown said their new home is a “big dream come true” for her and her son, who was equally excited and filled with emotion as they received the keys to their newly built home. “All those days, all the hours come down to this; I will get to spend my days with Carter surrounded by the walls that I helped build,” said Brown. “I can chase him down the hall, stepping on the floor that I helped lay. Play hide and seek and find him hiding under the stairs where the walls are filled with signatures of all the wonderful people that helped make my dream- our dream come true.”
She thanked Habitat for Humanity and all the organizations and volunteers involved in making her dream home possible. “To- day is the day I get to take his hand, walk through that door and tell him, ‘welcome home.’ A big thank you to Habitat for Humanity that made this possible and all the workers and volunteers who joined me in working on our new home.” The new home is a three-bedroom, two-storey home totalling approximately 1,400 sq. ft.
“We are very excited to welcome Kathy into her new home,” said Kelly HolmesBinns, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Regina. “Affordable homeownership is a life-changing experience for Kathy and her son. The Habitat Moose Jaw Committee has done an amazing job of bringing the community together to support Kathy’s homeownership dream. As an organization, we would like to express our sincere thanks for all the support we’ve received to make this project possible.”
The construction of the new home has received $50,000 in funding through the Federal and Provincial Governments. The Mosaic Company also provided a generous donation; in-kind and cash donations from organizations including Armstrong Construction, Carpet One Floor and Home Apex Electric. In addition, nearly $70,000 was raised through community fundraising projects, including the Annual Spring Gala and Annual Colour Fun Run. Habitat for Humanity Moose Jaw operates as a Chapter under the umbrella of Habitat for Humanity Regina. Habitat Moose Jaw was founded in 2008 and has an active volunteer board that has served eight (8) families with safe, decent and affordable housing. “Since our chapter’s 2008 launch, for me to have been able to attend every family introduction as well as their subsequent key presentations, has been amazing,” said Habitat for Humanity Board Chair, Bill Harris. “Each event has served to further validate the importance of providing Habitat partner families with a hand up in order to be able them to experience the joys of safe, decent and affordable homeownership.”
MLA for Moose Jaw North, Warren Michelson also congratulated Kathy and her son on their new home. “Our government is pleased to stand with our partners today to welcome a Moose Jaw family to their new home,” Michelson said. “Having a safe, comfortable and affordable home is important for all Saskatchewan people and their communities. This home marks an important step forward for this family and demonstrates our commitment to helping more families achieve strength, stability and self-reliance, beginning with a home to call their own.”