Habitat for Humanity Yorkton has begun work on their latest build. The fourth build, located at 130 Tupper Ave, to will take place over the summer and fall, with the plan to hand over the keys in before Christmas of this year.
The Crook family will be the owners of the new home. Shannon Crook and her children Davis, 11, Shaelyn, 8 and Hunter, 2, will be moving into the house. Merv Catchuk, Yorkton Project Manager, says that they are a deserving family and that Crook is a big help with the volunteer committee and helping out with Habitat projects. Crook says that she remembers applying over a year ago, and now they are excited to start moving forward.
"It's a new beginning for me and my family," Crook says.
Each family must contribute to 500 hours of sweat equity on Habitat projects as their down payment, and Crook is ready to get to work.
"Just to be able to take part and watch it come together, it's very exciting, I can't wait."
The home will be designed with the needs of Crook's daughter in mind. Shaelyn has osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare bone disease, and is sometimes confined to a wheelchair. Crook says that it is difficult to find a home that is suited to her daughter's needs, and their current home is not wheelchair accessible. The new home is a "barrier-free home" explains Catchuk, which means it will have a minimum number of interior walls and will be all on one level.
"To be able to have a home that accommodates her and her needs, it's amazing," Crook says.
Part of the project is being funded by the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, which is contributing $50,000 to the build. It is part of a larger commitment of $2 million to build 40 Habitat homes throughout Saskatchewan. This build is also in partnership with Mosaic Potash Corporation.
Crook works at the Painted Hand Casino and Dr. Brass School, and many of her friends and coworkers have been supporting her and Habitat for Humanity. She says that their support is greatly appreciated, and she knows they will be a big part of not only her build, but future Habitat projects.
