HFH announces 2009 start-up construction date

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Habitat for Humanity North Bay & Blue Sky Region
News Release

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Habitat for Humanity North Bay & Blue Sky Region is pleased to announce that Eagle Tree & Landscaping Service will be on-site Thursday April 9 at 9 a.m. to prepare its 2009 building lot in the 500 block of Dane Avenue in North Bay. HFH Project Manager John Best has already consulted with tree expert Hal Falk to determine which trees need to be removed for construction and which trees will be kept. Two families are eagerly anticipating the planned construction of a semi-detached home on the lot, purchased by Habitat for Humanity North Bay and Blue Sky Region last fall from Turret Housing and Construction Company at a generous discount. Our construction shed, donated by Carry-All Home Builders and built off-site by volunteers last fall, will be transported to the site this month and the foundation will be excavated. Construction Technology students from Widdifield Secondary School will then build the foundation under the supervision of their teacher Anthony Riley.

The King family of seven (mom, dad and five children) and the Southwind family of seven (mom, dad and five children) applied and were selected, and have been approved by the Board to log the 500 hours of “sweat equity” that must be completed by partner families before taking title and moving in. Habitat partner families are selected on the basis of three main criteria: need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner. Families must currently live in a home not suited to their needs (unsafe, too small, not accessible, etc) and must have a family income that is below the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) established annually by Statscan. Families must also, however, have a minimum income of $20 000, necessary to make mortgage payments and handle all of the responsibilities (utilities, taxes, insurance, etc) of home ownership. Habitat homes are fully mortgaged at the time the family takes title and the family makes interest-free payments on a first mortgage (for 75% of the fair market value of the home). If the family remains in the home until the first mortgage is fully paid, the second mortgage (for 25% of the fair market value of the home) is forgiven. If the family defaults on the first mortgage or sells the home, the second mortgage becomes due and payable with the first mortgage. Mortgage payments go into a “Fund for Humanity” to help to fund future builds for more families.

Volunteers (sixteen years of age and up), with or without prior construction skills, must all attend one Habitat for Humanity Safety Training before working on the build site. The next safety training meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 18 at Redeemer Lutheran Church at 725 Ferguson Street. Please register in advance by emailing [email protected] or leaving a telephone message at 495-6244.

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