Estevan’s Habitat for Humanity committee has taken the next step forward in building a second home for a local family.
The committee hosted an information session for prospective partner families on Saturday afternoon at the Days Inn. Representatives from potential families came to find out the requirements, and to ask questions of Tara Goulet and Addie Polley, who are with Habitat’s Regina chapter.
The Estevan chapter is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity in Regina.
“We go through our presentation to help families understand what our program is all about. And from there, they can make a decision whether or not they want to apply for a home with Habitat, and … they can pick up an application,” said Goulet.
Eight of the families who attended the session picked up an application form. A representative of the prospective partner family had to be in attendance in order to apply.
The local chapter wants people to know all about home ownership with Habitat.
“It’s the Habitat Canada program that we follow. We’re making sure that they know what the qualifiers are to make sure that they’re the right fit for our program, and what their year is going to look like once they are chosen to be a partner family,” said Polley.
Goulet pointed out that people will often ask questions about the mortgage. A mortgage with Habitat for Humanity does not have a down payment, and it is interest-free, and it will be 25 per cent of the annual gross household income.
People will want to know if they can roll their property taxes into their mortgage payments, or if the payment will change if they get a raise.
“A lot of people think that they will only pay the same amount every year, and we analyse their payment every year,” said Goulet.
Other people want to know about requirements for sweat equity, such as the tasks they will have during the construction phase.
There weren’t a lot of questions during the Estevan session, but the local committee wanted potential applicants to know about changes in requirements, particularly when it comes to sweat equity.
“It used to be that all of the sweat equity had to be completed by the time the house was completed in order for them to get access to the mortgage, but now with the sweat equity, they’re given a year to get their sweat equity hours in,” said Estevan committee chair Doug Barnstable.
He conceded it can be difficult for the partner family to get the hours in with other commitments, but family and friends can help out.
Once the questions were answered, people in attendance picked up the preliminary application.
They also heard from Stephanie Bramham, who was the first partner family for Habitat for Humanity in Estevan, along with her daughter Teal. Stephanie Bramham noted that her journey to being a partner family started when she attended an information meeting in 2016.
“I wasn’t even 100 per cent sure if I was going to qualify or not, but I handed it in anyways,” said Bramham.
After submitting an application, she had a home interview and was selected as the partner family.
Bramham and her family and friends put in the 500 hours of sweat equity. Her father was at the build site every day. She promoted Habitat in the community and performing tasks such as painting, insulation and tying rebar.
“My daughter loves being there,” said Bramham. “She loves playing with her friends outside in the summer. One of the kids in day care lives really close.”
A birthday party for Teal was held at the house last summer, and Christmas supper has taken place there in 2017 and 2018.
“Teal loves having people over,” Bramham said.
Barnstable pointed out the number of people who picked up applications was a significant increase from the last information session in 2016. Only three people took out applications in 2016, and one of them wasn’t eligible.
“It shows an increased interest in the community and an awareness of the availability of Habitat homes being built, and hopefully it encourages the community that there is still a need out there,” he said.
Barnstable expects the applications will be in by March 30. Then the committee will proceed with a review and decision on who to give long applications. People will have 30 days to complete those forms.
“There are also home visits involved with the applicants on the long form level, and it takes some extra time as well on the review and decision-making,” said Barnstable.
The local committee recommends two families to Regina, who will make the final decision.
Barnstable pointed out the local committee still hopes to build a home this year, but they need about $40,000-$45,000 more in fundraising.
Goulet and Polley said the families that have received a home through Habitat for Humanity in Regina and its other chapters, including Estevan, are grateful for the opportunity.
“We are making a difference in people’s lives, and the goal of this is to help break the cycle of poverty,” said Goulet.
