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| | Volunteers put the finishing touches on Habitat for Humanity's Summerland project. Photo by Wendy Beam. |
AN Okanagan family now has a new home, tailor made for
the special needs of some of its members.
Last month, the South Okanagan affiliate of Habitat for
Humanity completed its first house, in Summerland. The Boileau family
has benefited in several ways.
Dan and Demeri Boileau have three sons; Dante (12),
Denzel (11) and Drew (9) – and a cat named Diesel. Demeri,
Dante and Drew are all hearing-impaired, with hearing only in 30 percent of
the range of normal human hearing. They cannot hear anything in the
sound range of bells and alarms.
Their house has been built with strobe lights attached
to the smoke alarms and doorbell. The 1,030 square foot house is simple,
yet attractive and well built.
Habitat for Humanity is an independent, non-profit,
faith-based housing program dedicated to the elimination of poverty housing
by building homes in partnership with families in need.
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Homeowners contribute hundreds of hours of ‘sweat
equity’ to the construction of their own homes, and then repay a
long-term, no-interest mortgage. Mortgage costs are kept low by the use of
volunteer labour and the generous donations of funds and building
materials.
Homeowners are chosen based on their need for
affordable housing, their willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity
and their ability to pay back the low-cost Habitat mortgage. Mortgage
payments go toward the cost of building future homes.
The impetus for the creation of the South Okanagan
affiliate came from the annual general meeting of St. Saviour’s
Anglican Church in Penticton, in 2004. Though it has spread far beyond the
one church, St. Saviour’s still provides many of the committee
members.
Other people involved come from Lutheran, Alliance,
United, Roman Catholic, Vineyard, Pentecostal and Baptist churches.
The affiliate is now trying to find a place to build a
second house. With the cost of land in the Okanagan Valley, this is proving
difficult, and it is hoped that someone will donate a lot.
The second family has been chosen; they helped build
the Boileau house.
November 2007
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