(L-R) Carpenter Allain Larochelle and Assistant Building Manager Steve Jaworski work on renovating the kitchen at 515 Jane Street.
By the end of July, the Devine family will be moving into their new home at 515 Jane Street, thanks to the help of the Home Ownership Affordability Partnership (HOAP).
515 Jane Street is the first project the North Bay Chapter of HOAP has taken on. The program is based on similar partnerships in Hamilton and Winnipeg.
The program purchases houses and renovates them for working low-income families with children.
“It’s taken us four years to get to this stage, so we are pretty excited,” mark Lepage, Co-chair of HOAP said.
The home on Jane Street was appraised at $89,000, but former owners Sandro and Christine Zimbalatti agreed to lower the price to $70,000.
Lepage explained that additional costs for renovations will reach $30,000.
“It’s a pretty sizable amount, although all the labor is free, costs may be a little higher than the $30,000,” he said.
The HOAP program is a partnership between Caisse Populaire, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Cogeco, Community Homeownership Action Group, District of Nipissing Social Services Administrative Board, Nipissing District Housing Corporation, North Bay Real Estate Board and Northern Credit Union.
As well, 30 members of North Bay’s military community have volunteered to complete the renovations.
Lepage explained a Selection Board interviewed all the families that applied for the home.
“We had several families that qualified, but the Devine’s were the ones that were ready to go,” Lepage said.
“We were very shocked and very delighted when we found out they had chosen us,” Angela Devine said.
Elizabeth Frazer, Chair of HOAP, explained they started the program due to the need for affordable housing in North Bay. According to Frazer, there are currently 1000 people waiting for affordable housing.
“Right from the beginning we really believed in the home ownership concept,” Frazer said.
“Given the reality of people paying as much for rent as they could be paying for a mortgage payment, we wanted to see how this could happen.”
Frazer explained that HOAP has plenty of work ahead of them.
“We have to put this house back together. Then we will move on to the next house, for the next family,” she said.
