Habitat for Humanity Killarney is calling out to their community to help them find a partner family for their next home build project!
The lot has been purchased in an ideal location for a family, and now the local committee is asking for folks to apply to the Habitat homeowner program.
"We have purchased a beautiful property," shares Habitat Killarney committee Chair, Joanna Friesen. "It's really close to the school and it's just a lovely, beautiful property. We are excited to get building on it. We're very excited about a new project. And we're excited about the possibility of welcoming new people on board who are excited about affordable, safe housing in our community, and about making sure that there's a space for every family."
"We know that there are like-minded people like that in the community who want to get involved with their time, with their resources, and we just really, really believe strongly that the work that Habitat does in the community is meaningful and important, and we're excited about it!"
Friesen says the committee put the call out last fall for applications and they did receive some, however family situations change and some families who were interested moved out of the community. And still other families were interested didn't fit the parameters set by Habitat for Humanity for their mortgage program as far as the family income was concerned. If the family income is higher it can make their mortgage payments to Habitat Manitoba larger than is feasible, which isn't beneficial at all. In that case it was better for the family to try and get a regular traditional mortgage through a local banking institution.
"So, what our committee's goal and need right now is really just to let the community know that we are looking for a family to build for ..."
"So, threading that needle between finding the need and the family that's ready and willing to own their own home, to have a mortgage just needs a help getting started. And our mortgage program is just such a great, a great program. So, what our committee's goal and need right now is really just to let the community know that we are looking for a family to build for and letting families know that perhaps our mortgage program is the right fit for you," shares Friesen.
"If you don't quite fit the parameters of a traditional mortgage, our mortgage is such a great program. It's an interest free, no down payment mortgage," she explains. "And it's just a really, really great way to get your family from a high rent situation or an improper housing situation into your own home in an affordable way."
"So yeah, we're putting the call out for families, and if that feels like you, if it fits the bill, be in touch with us! And we're going to see if we can find the right family for the right fit for this beautiful, beautiful property in Killarney that's kitty-corner to the Killarney school."
So, we just really are asking for the community's help and spreading the word!
"It's such a lovely spot," she adds. "When I drive by it, I'm so excited when I think about how there's going to be family in that spot and it's going to be a great start for their family. But that first is finding a family. So we want to spread the word far and wide that if you know somebody who is working and able, but just struggling with a traditional mortgage, our mortgage program might be right for them!"
So, we just really are asking for the community's help and spreading the word!
They have the financial resources, they have the property, and now they're looking for their partner family!
The Habitat for Humanity mortgage model is set up so the mortgage payments are paid to Habitat Manitoba but goes into that community's Habitat account so that the more Habitat homes in one community, the more that account grows.
"The nice thing about the fundraising is our community has been so supportive, and we have three houses in the community already, where families have purchased their own home. Their mortgages every month go towards the next home for the next family," explains Friesen. "So, it just kind of slowly builds the pot. And so, we're excited to actually have a chunk of the fundraising already taken care of through our partner families."
"So, with each build it lessens the load on the community as far as fundraising support," she adds. "So, we definitely will be looking for financial and fundraising support once we kind of know where we're at, once we know what kind of home we're building and then we'll be able to get going."
Friesen says they're going full steam ahead with accepting and then processing applications to determine the exact size of home they need to build for the number of adults and children outlined in the applications. Habitat has house plans ready, and a tentative budget but funding decisions can't be made until they've made a decision on who their partner family is going to be.
"...many hands make light work..."
The second call out for the Killarney Habitat chapter is to add more Board members to their team. With recent retirements of some key individuals, there are some seats that need to be filled.
"It's one of those things where many hands make light work and if we could have people step on board that would be great! Having another person or couple of people jump on board, would really, really help!"