Yail Harbour's Pathway Homes project has hit a major milestone, with the first three units completed. The local non-profit provides personal care and housing for Yorkton's mentally and physically disabled, and residents will be moving in to these homes on April 1.
Sonya Reviczky, Executive Director of Yail Harbour, says that the project got started about three years ago, when the City of Yorkton donated land on which to build the triplex homes. The homes are designed for individuals in Yail Harbour's supported living program.
The homes are based on a universal design, explains Reviczky. For instance, the shelving in the cabinets are designed to be pulled down for easier access, there are pot-fillers to allow filling of pots at the stove, there is a full sprinkler system.
The homes are also designed with wide doorways and hallways to allow for wheelchair accessibility, and the bathrooms have various handles and aids to accommodate those with a physical disability.
There was a major need for the new triplex, Reviczky says, both because there aren't many units in the city with this universal design, and because their residents have difficulty qualifying for government programs, as they do not have families.
With the new home, they are not only moving into a place better suited for their needs, but also a home that makes more sense financially, especially as they often don't have a large income.
"We're able to provide a new unit for actually a lot cheaper for what our residents were paying renting apartments in the community," Reviczky says.
Resident Crystal Buczulak says that she's excited to move into her new home, and which she says is a big step up from where she was living before.
The new building had a $100,000 down payment on the mortgage, which Reviczky emphasizes is entirely from the support of the community.
"There's no government funding for this unit, it's strictly on donations from businesses and people in the community."
This first building is just the beginning, Reviczky says, and they hope to see the next home begin construction in the next few months.
