A highlight for any Habitat for Humanity home construction is the key presentation ceremony, when the committee presents its partner family with the key to their new home.
The local Habitat for Humanity committee celebrated the completion of its first home on Friday with a key ceremony at the home, located at 410 Sillers Street. Doug Barnstable, the chair of the local Habitat for Humanity committee, presented the key to Stephanie Bramham and her daughter Teal.
Bramham said the key ceremony was an exciting time for her and her daughter.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to living in a quiet neighborhood and having a great space for my daughter to grow up,鈥� said Bramham. 鈥淣ow we will have a nice fenced-in yard instead of a valley for a backyard.鈥�
At the Bramhams鈥� former home, Teal鈥檚 tricycle was stolen and left in the valley.
She applied to be the partner family for Habitat because she wanted to raise her daughter in a safe environment, and provide her with the home she deserves.
The Bramhams were selected as the partner family in October 2016, and she has been looking forward to the completion of the new home ever since. According to Stephanie Bramham, this wouldn鈥檛 have happened without the support of family, friends and employers.聽
The open concept living space will allow her to keep an eye on her daughter, and Bramham is looking forward to using the pantry. She is also excited to gardening with her daughter.
鈥淢y daughter loves to play outside, and now she will have a safe place to do so,鈥� said Bramham.
Teal is only four years old, but is aware of what鈥檚 happening and is looking forward to the move.
鈥淪he wants to get her stuff in, and they鈥檙e making some stuff at daycare for her in her new room,鈥� said Bramham.
Bramham noted that some people have the misconception that Habitat for Humanity gives away a home. But Bramham noted she will purchase the house at fair market value, and she will make monthly mortgage payments like any other homeowner. But her mortgage won鈥檛 require a down payment, and the mortgage is interest-free.
鈥淚t is these special differences that make it possible for a single mother like myself, on a limited income, to afford my own home, and I can鈥檛 thank Habitat for Humanity enough for this wonderful opportunity,鈥� said Bramham.
Bramham expected to begin moving possessions this week, with a big move happening on the weekend.
Barnstable said a couple of tasks remain before the house is finished. Blinds still have to be installed, and the washer and dryer have to be delivered.
Barnstable said the Habitat committee received excellent support for this first build. The federal and provincial governments supplied $50,000, and the City of Estevan added $10,000. The committee hosted fundraisers, and received donations and gifts-in-kind.
鈥淲e had in the neighborhood of $260,000 that was donated in value of gifts-in-kind and grants and funds,鈥� said Barnstable.
Members of the Habitat committee worked hard during the fundraising process and once construction began.
Elaine Walkom and her late husband Grant were the largest donors, as they provided a mobile home that was sold to allow Habitat for Humanity to purchase the lot.
Barnstable recognized three volunteers, Brian Smith, Delmar Quewezance and Jack Bramham, the father of the partner family.
鈥淭hey were at the construction site month after month, day after day, five and six days a week,鈥� said Barnstable.
Stephanie Bramham contributed more than 100 hours of sweat equity, and another 50 hours in other promotional efforts.
鈥淒uring my time putting in my sweat equity hours, I learned how to paint, put in insulation and do other jobs to maintain and construct the house,鈥� said Bramham. 鈥淚 enjoyed my volunteer time and community involvement, and I鈥檝e met some really great people along the way.鈥�
She also stained the fence boards and hung drywall in the basement.
Barnstable said the construction process went according to plan. The weather was co-operative and didn鈥檛 cause delays. Bramham was also great to work with, and anxious to get her time in.
The home was built in a little more than three months, which made it difficult at times to get her sweat equity in. Regina homes are often built in five to six months, which gives the homeowners a chance to get in their hours.
Estevan MLA Lori Carr, who spoke on behalf of Paul Merriman, the minister of Social Services and the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, said home ownership is a dream shared by many people.
鈥淗owever, some families need a helping hand in order to achieve this dream,鈥� said Carr. 鈥淗abitat for Humanity can, and does, make dreams come true. Each Habitat for Humanity home represents hours of hard work and caring, all of which help families make their dream of home ownership possible.鈥�
Since 2009, homes have been built in 14 Saskatchewan communities through Habitat for Humanity.
City Councillor Dennis Moore said he was impressed how the home came together in a short period of time through working together with the public, contractors and volunteers.
鈥淎gain, it shows what Estevan can do with the right people in place,鈥� said Moore.
Habitat for Humanity in Regina sponsored the project. Kelly Holmes-Binns, who is the CEO for Habitat鈥檚 Regina chapter, noted the organization has helped more than 100 families since its inception in 1993.
鈥淲e do that by partnering with low-income families who face housing challenges, such as over-crowding, high rental rates relative to their income, and unsafe or substandard living conditions,鈥� said Holmes-Binns.
Holmes-Binns applauded Bramham for her desire to make a better life for her and Teal.
鈥淪he worked hard to make her dream of affordable home ownership a reality, so thanks for your contributions, Stephanie, and I鈥檇 like to welcome you to the fold of Habitat for Humanity families, and say to you and your daughter welcome home,鈥� said Holmes-Binns.
As part of the build project, the We Day Club at Spruce Ridge School raised $2,400 to support a build in a developing nation. It鈥檚 part of the local chapter鈥檚 commitment for building a Habitat home.
Barnstable said the committee learned some lessons during this build. More volunteers will be needed the next time a home is constructed.
鈥淚 know there are a lot of people who have indicated an interest in being involved, and it was always a challenge to find things that they would be able to do, when they鈥檇 be available,鈥� said Barnstable.
The committee would also like to have more people involved with fundraiser.
Barnstable noted the committee does have some seed money for the next build, thanks to the support from the community for the first home built in Estevan through Habitat for Humanity.
