A women-led affordable housing project has been completed in Regina to help a Habitat for Humanity partner family achieve their dream of homeownership. Keys were presented to the family during a special ceremony held in Regina today.
The Women Build project, a first for the city, is the result of a partnership between the Government of Saskatchewan and Habitat for Humanity Regina. The province provided $50,000 for the project to facilitate housing development, strengthen communities and encourage women's participation in the skilled trades and technologies.
"This Habitat for Humanity home is unique because the project was led by women," Social Services Minister; Minister responsible for the Status of Women and Minister responsible Saskatchewan Housing Corporation June Draude said. "Our recently released eight-year Housing Strategy for Saskatchewan puts forth a vision to move forward together with Saskatchewan housing stakeholders. Housing matters to everyone, and we are proud to work with Habitat and other community partners to make this project, and many others like it, a reality."
"The Women Build project reflects our commitment to encourage Saskatchewan women to explore, train and build careers in skilled trades, and to increasing the supply of housing for Saskatchewan families in need," Government Services Minister Laura Ross said. "We applaud the efforts of Habitat for Humanity, the women leaders who supported the project and all the volunteers who helped make this project such a resounding success."
"What a great project from beginning to end," Habitat for Humanity Regina CEO Dennis Coutts said. "Again, another Regina family has been able to escape the cycle of poverty by entering into homeownership. We know that homeownership is a generational blessing that extends to our children and even their children. Our sincere thanks to Minister Draude and the Government of Saskatchewan for showing leadership and initiative creating awareness for the status of women in Saskatchewan, while addressing our need for affordable housing."
Since 2009, the province has dedicated $3.5 million in funding for Habitat for Humanity affiliates and chapters in Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert and Lloydminster to help build a total of 70 homes across the province. To date, the government has committed more than $2 million of the $3.5 million in grant funding available to Saskatchewan Habitat for Humanity affiliates to develop 40 homes.
Women Build is a Habitat for Humanity program that promotes women's leadership and participation in the construction industry, and provides concrete, practical opportunities for women to learn and practice trade skills under the direction of skilled tradespersons. With the cost of building new homes increasing significantly, Habitat is one of the few organizations whose distinct delivery model continues to provide viable homeownership opportunities for low- to moderate-income families. Each selected Habitat partner family contributes 500 partnering hours to build their home and other Habitat for Humanity homes.
