Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (Sep 23/02) - Maggie Kurszewski will not have to collect a loonie at a time for a new house after all.

The Fort Smith elder says she has received a written offer from the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to replace her existing home with a new one.

Maggie Kurszewski of Fort Smith says she will be getting a new home from the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. - NNSL file photo

"And it's a good one," she says of the offer, noting it would provide her with a new bungalow.

Earlier this summer in a News/North article, Kurszewski had announced that she intended to raise $1 from everyone in the NWT to help her get a new house.

As of last week, the total raised was $210.

Kurszewski says she now has forms from the housing corporation to sign, and she expects to do that soon after consulting with her family.

"I'm going to sign it," she says.

Kurszewski has been requesting a new house from the housing corporation for almost 10 years.

Over the years, the corporation has assisted with repairs to the house.

Kurszewski estimates her current house on McDougal Road in Fort Smith is close to 100 years old.

She notes it is in deteriorating condition.

"Everything is falling apart," she says.

Construction of the new house will begin in the spring and be finished next summer, she says.

"I'm not getting any younger," says the 67-year-old Kurszewski. "They better hurry up with it."

She says she is very encouraged by the housing corporation offer.

"I feel about 10 years younger," she says, adding that she will be able to put up with what her "old shack" throws at her until a new house in built.

"The only thing that keeps me going is that I'll be in a new house next year."

Citing confidentiality requirements, a spokesperson for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation declined to comment.