Habitat for Humanity (HFH) is coming to Estevan.聽
The local chapter of this international, non-governmental, non-profit organization that builds simple and affordable homes for others, received their official local chapter status on Feb. 1 of this year.聽
An open house, information session and the start of a local fundraising venture will be slated soon with the selection of the partner family being identified later this summer.聽
The Estevan chapter鈥檚 steering committee will operate under the auspices of the Regina chapter of HFH. A letter of intent was submitted to the Regina group in early January with the approval coming from the Regina committee less than a month later. A complete memorandum of understanding with the Regina HFH was signed on Feb. 17.聽
Doug Barnstable is serving as Estevan鈥檚 chairman of the steering committee and was responsible for setting the wheels in motion for the local organization, bringing Calven Johnson along with him. Johnson is serving as secretary while Dan Jenish has been appointed treasurer. Archie McIsaac has signed on as the construction supervisor.聽
A few director positions have yet to be filled, but Barnstable and Johnson said they expected to have most of them filled by the time the open house and information session comes around.聽
鈥淲e expect to have our first home under construction by next year,鈥� said Barnstable, noting it is easier to round up construction volunteers in the warmer months, which means the construction process would begin around April with a five to six month construction period before the key could be turned over to the family who will also provide at least 500 hours of 鈥渟weat equity鈥� in the process, which is one of the mandates of the HFH program that allows citizens with restricted incomes to become homeowners, perhaps for the first time in their lives.聽
More information about the local chapter and their plans can be found in the next edition of 麻豆视频east Lifestyles, on your newsstands and in your mailboxes this weekend. 聽
