Habitat for Humanity making a difference in Whitecourt

By Laura Bohnert
A representative from the Whitecourt branch of Habitat for Humanity was present at the recent town council meeting, held on February 23, 2015, to provide council with an update on the recent builds and successes within the community.
To date, Habitat for Humanity has assisted seven families in total, and two of these families will be moving into units in the upcoming months.
The Whitecourt Habitat for Humanity project began in 2009 when the process of acquiring land for building homes began. In 2013 the first family moved in. Habitat for Humanity now has two duplexes in Whitecourt, providing homes for four Whitecourt families.
Habitat homes are built by volunteers and donors but, while many believe that the homes are simply given to those who need them, the process is actually structured as a means of providing transitional aid to families who are in need.
Once the homes are built, a unit is sold to a family who meets the specific qualification criteria and passes the application procedure. While the family does have to pay for the home, Habitat for Humanity is able to ease the financial burden by holding the mortgage for the home itself. The organization does not charge interest on the home, and further amortizes the mortgage for as long as the family needs. As a result, the family does not have to spend more than 25 per cent of its income on housing.
Allowing these families to live more affordably in a time of need enables them to get back on their feet rather than falling further.
Once the family no longer needs the assistance, Habitat for Humanity buys the home back, and it becomes available to another family who needs it.
For more information about the Habitat for Humanity process, to find out more about Habitat for Humanity in Whitecourt, or to find out ways you can contribute to the Habitat for Humanity effort, visit https://www.hfh.org/.