Habitat for Humanity

Dryden has joined the international movement to help local families in need of safe, decent and affordable housing.

A Habitat for Humanity Chapter is officially up and running in the community.

A large crowd attended the inaugural public information session at the Centre on Wednesday.

Chair Sally Sipos says the next step is setting their timeline for the build as well as draft a budget.

The Habitat for Humanity Manitoba Chapter in Winnipeg needs to approve both plans.

The first build in Dryden is targeted to begin in May 2021, but a family is expected to be selected this March.

The organization is also working with the City on a potential site.

Sipos says a family selection committee has been carefully chosen in order to ensure the program follows a rigorous and confidential application process.

She notes this ensures the family that is selected for a home has the ability to pay back a mortgage through Habitat for Humanity at affordable rates.

There is also a requirement for the family to contribute to what is called “sweat equity” which requires them to contribute volunteer time to building their own home and contributing to the cause.

Sipos adds they are also looking for additional volunteers.

“There are a lot of people who are concerned that they don’t have the physical stamina to be able to help build or they don’t have construction experience. There’s many, many areas that we need help with that have nothing to do with building. So don’t hesitate to come out and volunteer.”

She stresses this is very much a hands-on project and will be a great accomplishment for the community as a whole.

For more information please contact info@dryden.habitat.mb.ca

Here is the Steering Team:
Chair: Sally Sipos
Secretary/Media Relations: Dianne Loewen
Treasurer: Julie Edwards
Family Selection Committee Chair: Karen McDonald
Construction Committee Co-chairs: Jerry Wilson and Terry Ollerhead
Fundraising Committee Chair: Shawna Fadden
Volunteer Recruitment Chair: Kailey Kirkby
Build Site Host Coordinator: Lynn McCormack
Safety Committee Co-chairs: Marilyn Findlay and Mike Parr

Who Qualifies For a Home:
1. In need of affordable housing
The family income must be below the government-set Low Income Cut-Off (poverty line) and their existing living conditions must be inadequate in terms of structure, cost, safety or size. The ratio of shelter expense to total income is also factored.
2. Able to repay a Habitat mortgage
The family must have a stable income sufficient to cover the monthly Habitat mortgage payments and other expenses that come with ownership
3. Willingness to partner with Habitat
Homeowners must demonstrate a willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity by contributing 350-500 hours of volunteer labour (“sweat equity”) towards the building of their home

 

Dryden has launched its first Habitat for Humanity Chapter and the public is getting an opportunity to learn more about the program.

Dianne Loewen and Sally Sipos were guests on the CKDR Morning Show today (Tuesday) to promote Wednesday’s public information session at the Centre starting at 6:30pm.

Loewen says “Whether you are a service group or a business in town that’s interested in learning how you can get involved and even more importantly perhaps you are a family that never thought home ownership could be a possibility for you. This is an opportunity to come out and learn how you might be able to make that happen.”

Sipos says “This program relies heavily on volunteers who work with partners to build homes that provide low income, working families with access to affordable home ownership.”

She adds “When we build a home, the partner family buys the home from Habitat for Humanity. Habitat extends a no down payment mortgage and then the family pays an affordable mortgage rate that’s geared towards their income.”

The free event tomorrow will help inform the public on what the community can do to make the dream a reality.

Loewen and Sipos will be on hand to explain:

-Understand how this offers “A HAND UP and not a Hand OUT”
-What it takes to get a build off the ground
-How the families are selected for a Habitat home
-What our community can do to make this a reality.

For more information, visit the audio link below.