For nine Edmonton families, the final days of 2014 brought with them the keys to brand new homes of their own.
Thanks to the efforts of Habitat for Humanity and its volunteers and supporters, nine new homes became ready for occupancy by their owners. Each family getting a home had already completed 500 hours of volunteer service with the organization and had helped to build residences for other families.
The new dwellings are in the Neufeld Landing Complex in the Rutherford community of Southwest Edmonton. The buildings are divided into nine condo units, which is a first project of this kind for the organization. They will become part of the community, along with the 16 other families who received their homes back in September.
In order to receive one of the units, each new owner had to not only donate their community service time, but also needed to help build their condo. According to Cheronne Labelle, who will live in one of the condos, this helps to build a feeling of pride for those who live in the building, while also fostering a sense of community.
A project like this gives people a hand up towards affordable home ownership. Brochure printers can create promotional materials that help explain the program and what people can do to either help or take part themselves.
