The fundraising pace for Estevan’s first-ever Habitat for Humanity (HFH) project just picked up substantially on Jan. 12 when Western Financial Group employees in the Estevan and district office decided to donate all of the $5,000 they had collected for their Western Community Fund, to the HFH cause.
“The fund (foundation) began in 2002 with the mandate to give back to the communities where we work,” said branch manager Vicki Penney just prior to handing over a large cheque to HFH chairman Doug Barnstable and treasurer Dan Jenish.
“We have an annual Support the Cause Walk as our main fundraiser and we have other events during the year to raise even more,” said Penney. There is also a golf classic in High River, Alta., each year that raises more funds for major causes.
“We have corporate infrastructure grants and awards for exceptional achievement, bursaries and matching grants for particular projects as well as the Gold Achievers Support the Walk program,” said Penney.
“At the local level, we have a staff meeting where we determine what we are going to support each year and sometimes we split it among two or three causes, but this year it was a unanimous vote to give it all to this project,” Penney added.
Barnstable said the money will be used to help pay for a lot on which the home for a single mother, Stephanie Bramham and her young daughter Teal, will be built.
“We have a property picked out, but it’s not definitely confirmed yet. The developer is giving us a good discount and the City of Estevan has allowed us a grant of $10,000 so once everything is in place, we can announce the location, but it’s 95 per cent assured,” said Barnstable.
“We can move on with a house plan about the same time and get a building permit in place for a low-cost housing project. The total build cost is budgeted for $225,000 with the property cost around $85,000,” said Barnstable, remarking on how the latest donation will help move them closer to the property purchase stage.
“We will continue fundraising over the next few months and we want to be ready to start building this coming spring,” Barnstable said.
The feature of HFH projects includes “sweat equity” from recipient families and their relatives and friends as well as volunteer input under the direction of a professional construction foreman. The donations can take the form of cash, materials or work-in-kind.
When the new homeowner takes possession they are required to make regular monthly mortgage payments (interest free) and meet all other normal household expense requirements, but in return, they get to build equity in the house and gain full ownership once the mortgage obligations are completed.
The Estevan project is being built under the umbrella of the Regina HFH group that assists by overseeing the project, helping with candidate selection, legal issues and project scheduling.
