By Angela Brown

Habitat for Humanity families receive keys to new home

Jul 26, 2017 | 4:53 PM

It was a happy day for two Habitat for Humanity families; they received the keys to their new homes in North Battleford.

Kirsten Scott and her children Jacob, 14, and Keegan, 4, and Nicole Horse and her kids Nicholai, nine, and Zidane,11, took part in the celebration outside their new Habitat duplex on Wednesday afternoon. 

Horse said it was a thrilling moment to receive the keys to her new place on 106 Street.

“I’m excited and grateful. It feels like such an accomplishment after some time. It’s finally here and it’s great. I appreciate the volunteer help,” Horse said.

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Families selected for the Habitat Home need to contribute 500 hours of labour to help complete the project.  

Scott wiped away tears during her speech at the ceremony.

“I’m very emotional,” she said. “It’s hard to express the gratitude that I have for everyone that has helped. [I’m] a little bit in shock.”

Both Scott and Horse also have their own jobs and will be taking on mortgages as part of their home ownership agreement. 

Barb Cox-Lloyd, CEO with Habitat for Humanity Saskatoon, the umbrella organization over the Battlefords chapter, said the Habitat team was excited to build in the area. This project was the chapter’s first and took two years to complete.

“Without the wonderful volunteers here, we just wouldn’t be able to do it,” she said. 

The site’s construction supervisor, Ron Braun echoed the sentiments.

“It feels real good to see it complete now,” he said. Braun addded the project took longer than expected due to scheduling challenges and because it commenced in winter. 

Cathy Richardson, a board member with My First Home Inc. (the project’s steering committee) said additional funds will be raised to pay the deficit caused by the time extension. 

The province, through Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, contributed $130,000 for the project. The Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs – Community Development Corporation contributed $20,000. A number of other donors and sponsors, as well as fundraising work also helped with the project costs.  

North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater who also attended said it took many people to get the project completed.

“It took a lot of time and energy. All those individuals involved are to be applauded for it,” he said. “It’s beautiful and now two families have a new home, which is amazing. There are conditions to the families, to offer a helping hand in order to secure their first homes. It’s a big thing when a family has a new home. I was happy to be here and to see it.”

While there is another lot of land donated for another Battlefords Habitat project, organizers haven’t started making any plans yet.

“We’ll have to finish paying for this one before we can start even dreaming about the next one,” Richardson said. “And, we’ll need to get a lot more volunteers from the community to be on the board.”

There is still a little bit of work and landscaping required for the new home just completed, so anyone who is interested can call Habitat for Humanity for more information if they wish to volunteer.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW