Habitat for Humanity brightens future for Erny family

Terry and Chrystal Erny stand with their three children, (left to right) Blaze, Justice and Destiny, on the site of their soon-to-be new home built by Habitat for Humanity North Bay & Blue Sky Region.

At noon today, members of Habitat for Humanity North Bay & Blue Sky Region gathered on First Avenue East, near John Street, to announce the acquisition of a building lot.

The new house, which will be constructed in the spring, means a new beginning and a bright future for the Erny family.

“I was in a bad accident and wasn’t able to return to work. I heard about habitat for humanity and decided to attend a meeting,” Terry Erny said.

“We took a chance and put in an application. Now, we have a chance to start a new life. We are all very excited,” Chrystal Erny said.

Terry and Chrystal’s three children, Destiny, age 7; Justice, age 4 and Blaze, who is almost three shared their mom and dad’s sense of excitement as they explored the new territory and took full advantage of the donut and timbit ‘buffet’.

The lot is in close proximity to schools, a park and a bike path. It is an excellent location for the Erny family to settle and grow.

Honorary Chair, Mayor Vic Fedeli said, “This is much more than turning over sod; we are helping turn over a new way of life.”

“Habitat for humanity does more than build homes. This organization is about creating communities filled with people who help one another,” Ken Hollington, Chair/ President of Habitat for Humanity and Chair of the Building Committee said.

Hollington continued, “This is a real boon for the city. We (habitat for humanity) have a five year plan to build at least two houses per year.”

The ground breaking took place today because the organization wants to have city services installed to the property line and surveying finished before the ground is completely frozen.

The Erny family will hopefully move into their new dwelling by the end of May or beginning of June.

Habitat for Humanity is a faith based independent organization that requires no assistance from the city. All money and resources are raised by the organization in partnership with low-income families.

Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1965 by a Georgia, USA couple named Millard and Linda Fuller.