New Habitat house gets cash
Organization will soon start building two-bedroom project on Hershman Road
Robin Grant
Northern News Services
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Local forces are gathering to help build the city's second Habitat for Humanity house.
In March, the Yellowknife Community Foundation donated $50,000 to the national not-for-profit organization, which begins constructing a two-bedroom, one-family house on a Hershman Road lot this month.
"We're very pleased to be a part of it," said Ian Legaree, foundation volunteer.
"I think it is one of those programs that we all understand is needed in a place like Yellowknife."
He said the charity is committed to making a difference in the community through significant grants to important social projects such as those organized by Habitat for Humanity.
Dominion Diamond Corporation also donated funds to the project.
Dominion CEO Brendan Bell stated in an e-mail the company is pleased to continue to support the organization and its efforts to help more Northerners become homeowners.
"We have supported Habitat for Humanity since 2013 and are pleased to continue our partnership to build stronger Northern communities," he stated. "Dominion also provided support for the ReStore program, which accepts and resells materials from other building projects in Yellowknife, not only reducing waste in the landfill but also providing an additional source of funds for the Habitat organization."
As for having a family move in, Habitat for Humanity NWT president Dave Hurley said the non-profit is hoping to have selected a family at the end of May or early June, with a family moving in in the fall.
Hurley explained the organization chooses families based on a need for decent, affordable housing that cannot be met by traditional means, the ability to repay a no-profit, no-interest mortgage loan based on income and the willingness to work in partnership with Habitat for Humanity NWT.
"We build houses cheaper because we work with volunteers and donations from the community so it is cheaper to build them," he said.
As it stands, the organization is still waiting for the foundation of the house to arrive in Yellowknife,
Hurley said. He said two 12-person volunteer groups will come up to Yellowknife from the south in June and July.
The organization also recently put a call-out for local volunteers, and held its first meeting last Wednesday at the Yellowknife Elks Lodge.
