Habitat for Humanity asks Yorkton council for new supports

YORKTON - Habitat for Humanity – Yorkton attended the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday making a presentation asking for additional city support. 

Kelsey Stewart, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan, explained that the organization has been active in the city for 15 years helping put families into affordable homes.

In a letter circulated to Council, Stewart noted, the need for affordable housing is critical in Yorkton.

Stewart added over the past five years, Habitat for Humanity has accounted for three out of eight new build permits in the city. This demonstrates not only the demand for affordable homes but also the direct impact Habitat is having on the city’s growth and development.

“Our work provides more than just homes; we offer a hand-up, not a hand-out. Habitat partner families are required to work 500 volunteer hours, which fosters a sense of community and belonging. This volunteer work contributes positively to the city, as families participate in building their own homes and supporting other local initiatives,” cited the letter.

To help continued build efforts locally Stewart requested Council consider three proposals to help with future costs.

The first was a donation of land.

“We respectfully request that the City of Yorkton consider donating land for new Habitat for Humanity builds. Our organization requires land in a safe, stable area that aligns with our mission to provide homes for families who need them most. If the city has vacant land that meets these criteria, this donation would be a major step toward addressing the community’s housing needs,” detailed the letter.

Secondly was a straight donation of cash.

“We ask for municipal funding to be allocated to Habitat for Humanity projects, specifically a donation of $15,000 per door, which is the amount provided by other municipalities in Saskatchewan. This funding will enable us to continue to build affordable homes for low income families in the area, as it has in other municipalities,” continued the letter.

And finally they asked for Council to “consider waiving utility hookup fees during the construction of Habitat homes. This will help reduce construction costs and enable us to focus on building more homes to serve our community.”

Council would refer the request to Administration for a follow-up report.