Habitat for Humanity is about putting families into homes, and one family has just received their keys. Oksana and Anatoni Kolesov and their children are recent immigrants to Yorkton from Ukraine, and are excited to have a home of their own in the city.
Rob Gartner, active CEO and COO with Habitat for Humanity Regina says that houses like the Kolesov home come together through bringing a community together, as the homes are built from the ground up by volunteers.
"What we do for the community makes a difference on so many different levels, with family, children and housing. I think that attracts people, and as a result we are very successful in building solid partnerships."
Gartner says that choosing a family is an intensive process, picking low income families who can meet the requirements for Habitat home ownership. All Habitat for Humanity families are required to put in 500 hours of "sweat equity," whether that means working on their own home or helping with other projects through the community, and they pay back an interest-free mortgage which goes towards building new homes in the area.
The provincial government is a major sponsor of Habitat for Humanity overall, contributing $7.1 million since March 2009 and $50,000 was contributed to this build specifically. June Draude, Minister of Housing, says that they support the program because it is about building community.
"What happens is that one neighbor is working on a home, another neighbor will get excited about it, and it brings everyone together. The other thing that happens is that there is a pride in the homes, as everyone knows they are part of a change. It's one of the most exciting feelings we can have, is having a habitat home and new families."
The home itself was a renovation, moving the house of Annie Woluschuck to Dunlop and repairing damage caused by the flood of 2010. She says she's glad to see a new family move into the home and enjoy it, and she's confident that the Kolesov family will be the perfect owners of her former home.
"That's what I really want to hear, that somebody will look after it and make use of it."
Woluschuck says she wants to keep in touch with the family, and hopes that they find the time to visit her in her new home when possible.
This is the third build in Yorkton, but not the last one this year. The fourth build, located on Tupper Ave., is a special needs home notes Gartner, and it's currently under construction. He expects that home to be complete within the next six months.
