REGINA — The keys were presented to 17 families on Monday morning to their homes at Haultain Crossing, a completed Habitat for Humanity project in Regina.
The 62-unit project marked its completion at a ceremony which featured Ahmed Hussen, minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, and Social Services Minister and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation Lori Carr, along with Habitat for Humanity representatives and others, including the new homeowners.
According to the province, the homes are two-storey townhouse style units that total 1,216 square feet or 113 square metres, with homes for larger families also including a finished basement. Of the 17 units being occupied on Monday, 14 received funding from Saskatchewan Housing Corporation and will be home to 25 adults and 45 children.
The development is located along Edgar Street in Regina. When it was announced in 2020, the project was touted as the largest Habitat for Humanity development in the province.
In the legislature Monday, Regina Coronation Park MLA Mark Docherty welcomed the opening of the development.
“Habitat for Humanity built an incredible 62 units at Haultain Crossing, and families who are in need now call these units home. This morning marked the completion of the final phases of the project, and we presented 17 families with the keys to their new home,” said Docherty.
“Mr. Speaker, having a home and putting down roots is among the first steps we take in making our future goals a reality. That is why the government of Saskatchewan is committed to providing safe and affordable housing for those in need.”
He noted that since 2009, the Government of Saskatchewan has committed more than $12 million to Habitat to develop 206 housing units in 14 communities across Saskatchewan.
Habitat for Humanity’s model for home ownership allows families to build their own homes and pay an affordable mortgage. According to the province’s news release, each partner family selected by Habitat contributes 500 partnering hours to build their home or other Habitat homes, and the family purchases their home at fair market value, paying an interest-free, zero-down-payment mortgage set at 25 per cent of their annual gross income.
Upon completion, an affordable no-interest mortgage is provided by Habitat to partner families with mortgage payments going back for future builds, according to the news release.
“This key ceremony is a big deal and will be the last at Haultain Crossing, as this is the end of our massive 62-unit build," Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan Chief Executive Officer Denis Perrault said in a statement. "I thank all of our donors, sponsors, community partners, volunteers and staff. Your endless contributions make a critical difference in our ability to build homes and help families that need a stable place to call home.”
According to the province’s news release, Saskatchewan Housing Corporation provided $910,000 in funding for the final phases of the Haultain Crossing project through the Saskatchewan Priorities initiative in the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation-Saskatchewan Bilateral Agreement under the National Housing Strategy. The funding is cost-matched by Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation. According to the province this includes more than $5.6 million for projects in Regina – nearly $3.5 million of which went toward the Haultain Crossing project.
