There appears to be a keen interest in getting a handle on the affordable housing situation in Humboldt.
About 40 people gathered at the Humboldt Senior Citizens' Hall on April 14 to look into the prospect of jump-starting a Habitat For Humanity (HH) project here in the city.
On hand was Saskatoon Habitat for Humanity executive director Barb Cox-Lloyd, who told her audience it was well within their reach to get a building project underway by the fall.
The local build would be done under the auspices of the Saskatoon affiliate of HH, although Cox-Lloyd said Humboldt could choose to formally incorporate as a chapter later if they decided to pursue future builds. She noted that's what has happened in Yorkton, which operates as a chapter of HH Regina. Yorkton began with one build (under Regina's supervision) last year, now has a second home in the works for this fall, and hopes to build two houses next year.
On the other hand, Moose Jaw is also building their first home under the direction of Regina, and it appears that will be a "one-off."
"Try us for a year, and then if you're interested (in going further), great. We'll formalize a chapter. If not, no hard feelings," Cox-Lloyd said.
Cox-Lloyd stressed that in building under the guidance of Saskatoon HH, Humboldt would still have to organize all fund-raising and volunteer efforts. Saskatoon would kick in the $50,000-per unit grant they receive from the provincial government, and would hold the mortgage on the property. They would also assist with various logistical aspects of building, with blueprints and specifications, and with advice. But it would be up to the people of Humboldt to make the build happen, she said.
Depending on land costs or any tax abatements a building project might receive, Cox-Lloyd said Humboldt citizens would likely have to raise between $75,000 and $100,000 for the project. She expects the final cost of a duplex - likely the most cost-effective build for Humboldt - to come in at around $150,000.
"If you can raise another $100,000, that should be lots," she said.
Volunteers would be needed not just to build the house, but also to form the various committees, such as the committee to select the homeowners.
Cox-Lloyd said under Saskatoon's criteria, prospective HH homeowners must earn less than $52,000 a year for the entire family. It is preferred that the chosen family has young children, she said.
The parents must then be committed to putting in 500 hours of "sweat equity" into their home, or other HH building projects. That sweat equity takes the place of a down payment, Cox-Lloyd noted.
HH then holds two mortgages on the property - one based on the cost of building the home, and another based on the property's appraised value. The second mortgage is intended to prevent people from buying an HH house cheap and then reselling it for profit. If the family does sell the house, then the second mortgage comes due at that time.
Mortgage payments are based on a fixed percentage of the family's income, so if their income goes up, so does their monthly payment. But then the mortgage is also paid off faster, Cox-Lloyd observed.
In most cases, those selected for HH homes are first-time buyers - but Cox-Lloyd noted there are exceptions. For example, the organization would certainly consider situations involving a divorced parent trying to re-establish a stable home environment for his or her children.
Cox-Lloyd stressed HH's mandate is to "provide a hand up, not a hand out." She said the organization firmly believes that home ownership is the best way out of financial hardship, and their projects have made a huge difference to families and children across the world.
Rev. Brenda Curtis of Westminster United Church was very excited by what she heard at the meeting.
"I really think this is possible for Humboldt," she noted with enthusiasm. "I know so many families here who would benefit. This would really be a great thing for our community."
HH affiliates operate in every province of Canada, plus Nunavut Territory. A new HH home is dedicated every 10-15 minutes. The organization currently builds about 240 homes in Canada every year, but hopes to raise that number to 500 in the next few years.
The Saskatoon affiliate is building eight units this year, but is hoping to be increase that number to 20 units by 2020.
Cox-Lloyd said she's confident that with fund-raising in place early, Humboldt's build could have the foundation poured by late August, and the building ready for occupation by the following spring.
