...Our Story

As Habitat for Humanity's most famous volunteer, the former president of the United States, has helped thousands of people struggling with inadequate rental housing live the dream of home ownership.

Corey Anderson never thought it could happen to her.

"You never have anything of your own, and, being divorced with three small children you're likely never going to," she said.

When the Yorkton chapter of Habitat started up in 2009 with a $50,000 grant from the provincial government, Corey was interested, but slightly reticent.

"You always think it's a long shot, like, they're not going to choose us," she said.

Not Charity

And it's not charity. That's misconception number one. Prospective habitat families have to go through a very serious application process. For one thing, they must prove they can afford to pay a habitat mortgage-which is interest-free, but a mortgage nonetheless-and property taxes. They must also be willing and able to put in 500 hours of sweat equity.

As President Carter famously said, "Habitat has successfully removed the stigma of charity by substituting it with a sense of partnership. The people who will live in the homes work side by side with the volunteers, so they feel very much that they are on an equal level."

A Very Happy Day

Cory attended the mandatory information session and filled out her application. She made it through the initial cut and was short-listed. That meant another meeting and more paperwork, but still she couldn't imagine that she would be picked.

"You always think there's someone who needs something more than yourself," she recalled.

So, when Donna Evans and Laurie Renton showed up on her doorstep with a gingerbread house, Corey was sure they were there to soften the bad news.

They were not.

"There was a lot of screaming and jumping and bawling," Corey said. "It's a phenomenal feeling."

The Build

Throughout the summer and fall of 2009 the build progressed under the skilled direction of Merv Catchuk, a professional property and project manager.

"It was a phenomenal build," Merv said. "[Corey] was a great volunteer. Her family helped out, her mom, her dad, everybody in her family helped her. She got her hours in no problem."

Of course, although Habitat projects are accomplished on the sweat of volunteers, they are still construction projects. Professional contractors oversee critical aspects of the build and the contribution of the recipients is geared toward their skill sets.

"They were very accommodating in letting us figure out the best way to get the 500 hours," Corey said.

Still, she said, she learned a lot and gained a tonne of confidence in doing things around the house.

"It was really fun," she said. "I still have my steel-toe shoes. I haven't worn them since, but I'm holding on to them. I may bronze them some day."

A Sense of Place

By Thanksgiving, Habitat was ready to turn the keys over to the home owners. Corey still gets choked up when she thinks about that day in October 2009.

"I think I cried for two days off and on," she said. "I can still do it now, just talking about it."

Her voice waivers when she talks about what it means to her kids, Katelyn, 10, Connor, 9, and Matthew, 7.

"It's given us a home base," she said. "No matter where everybody goes now, they will always have some place to come back to. It's just nice for them to have someplace that's theirs."