Newest Habitat family moves in

It has been almost a year since the sod was turned on Betts Ave., but a Yorkton family is moving into their new home. The Kozie family has become the latest family to get a new home from Habitat for Humanity.
Breana Kozie and her children Emily and Jace have been living in their new home for two weeks. Before being selected to receive a Habitat home, they were living in a “very tiny” apartment. They then moved in with her mother as they waited for the house to be completed, something Kozie admits was “chaos,” making them grateful to be in their own home.
“We are very happy, it’s stress free.”
The Kozie family had to do 500 hours of “sweat equity” (volunteer work) as a down payment for their home. Kozie went beyond the minimum to get the required hours.
“It was hard work but it was a lot of fun doing it.”
The Kozies are happy to have a new home.
“This day means everything to me... We are extremely happy to begin the rest of our life here.”
This Habitat home was also part of a new initiative with the White Spruce Provincial Training Centre. The home was built with labour support from the Construction Worker Preparation Program, which gives offenders the chance to work towards a Journeyman certificate and gain experience and vocational skills.
It’s the seventh build in nine years for Habitat in Yorkton. Kelly Holmes-Binns, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Regina, says that seeing families move is the motivation for the work Habitat does. Yorkton has been more productive than some Habitat organizations in larger centres, Holmes-Binns noted.
“It’s the moment we all strive for, when we can lift a family out of poverty and ensure that they have safe, decent and affordable housing. It takes a community to come together and do that. Yorkton’s a remarkable community and they do a great job every time. It sets the Kozie family up for long term success and we’re very excited for them.”
This home is also notable for another reason. It’s the last Habitat home to be built with the involvement of one of Habitat for Humanity Yorkton’s founding members. George Plews died in December 2017, and the home is dedicated in his honor.
“George was really a cornerstone of this community and a cornerstone of Habitat for Humanity Yorkton. He is dearly missed and it’s wonderful to be able to honour his memory in this way. I know that he is very proud of what Yorkton has accomplished.”
There will be another build, but given that those plans are still in the very early stages not much else is known. Holmes-Binns expects it to start in 2019.