The Habitat for Humanity Estevan chapter is moving forward with its third build in the community, and it has received a big boost already towards its fundraisng.
Doug Barnstable, who chairs the local committee, said an anonymous person in the community has stepped forward with a generous donation – a vacant lot located at 1011 Hillcrest Drive that can be used for the Estevan chapter’s third home in Estevan.
Construction will be able to start as soon as the local committee has their funds in place.
“We’re hoping to start building around mid-2022, so we’re looking at fundraising primarily for this year, and early into next year,” said Barnstable.
The donation gives them a head start. Typically the committee would have to pay at least $80,000 for one lot.
“One the things that we’ve experienced on the last two builds is on each time, there has been a major donor who haw shown up with the amount of $50,000, which has helped immensely as far as getting the total funds in place.”
The donated lot won’t require the local chapter to have an attached garage like the previous ones. Architectural controls required a minimum of a single-car garage on the other homes.
Barnstable said the total cost for one new home is about $307,000, including the lot and the construction costs. The donation of the land allows them to take $70,000-$80,000 off that amount, and they also have some in-kind commitments already.
“We’re hopeful that the total amount that we would have to raise funds for is somewhere in the neighbourhood of $180,000 to $200,000 in cash and gifts in kind,” said Barnstable.
The process of selecting a partner family is also expected to begin some time early next year as well.
A couple of fundraisers are happening as well. The first is the Meaning of Home Writing Contest for local school students and for home-schooled students in Grades 4-6.
“It’s focused mostly on online applications this time around. In the past we had some applications that were sent in as a group, and then a couple schools used the online option.”
It started Jan. 4 and contest entries will close Feb. 19. Winners will be announced in the spring.
Students explain what home means to them for a chance to direct a $30,000 grant to a local Habitat for Humanity build.
Sagen will donate $10 for each local entry to the Estevan chapter.
The local Habitat chapter will also be the beneficiary of The Black Grasshopper Pub’s Pizza with a Purpose on Feb. 8. Five dollars from the sale of every 10-inch, three-topping pizza will go to the chapter.
The committee has been reaching out to people who have supported them in the past, and they are looking at other options for fundraising. Previously they have hosted cash calendar draws and poker tournaments, which Barnstable said are not compatible with COVID restrictions.
Instead, they’re looking at online options such as 50-50 draws.
Barnstable said they’re also trying to attract additional volunteers with the organization, getting people involved with committees or helping out with the construction side.
“We’ve done a review of all of the people that we had on our contact list, and we’re still looking for people who might be interested in being co-chairs of committees or on committees, just to try to spread some more of the responsibilities around a little bit, so we can count on people to be involved in all of the areas that we have to do, such as fundraising and volunteer co-ordination during the build,” said Barnstable.
The Estevan chapter needs to have the home constructed by the end of 2022, as per the terms of its affiliate status with Habitat for Humanity Regina. It’s why they’re pushing the fundraising now and so that they have 80 per cent of the needed support in place by the end of the year.
COVID-19 has had an impact on all of the chapters outside of Regina, and there have been discussions on what can be done for them. Costs such as lumber and other materials have gone up.
Barnstable and vice-chair Calven Johnson appeared before Estevan city council at the Jan. 25 meeting to ask for financial support and to provide an update on the local committee efforts. Council ultimately tabled the request after discussing several options for support, including a $10,000 donation, which could be spread out over two years, waiving permit fees or waiving the municipal portion of property taxes.
The first two homes in Estevan were constructed in the Solid Rock subdivision in northeast Estevan. The most recent home was finished last year and a key ceremony occurred in August.
The homeowners, Chris Lewis and Holly Boreski and their four children, have enjoyed the residence.
“It’s been a real change for them and their lifestyle, and they have thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Barnstable. “It was a lot of work for them. Obviously they put time in on the construction side. They’re a busy family as it was, but obviously they’re quite happy and pleased with the home they’re in.”
