Teresa Fraser has high hopes her daughter Hailee won't have to move around like she did as a youngster.
Fortunately, the Frasers are ready to grow roots in their new Oakmont townhouse, courtesy Habitat for Humanity and a local home builder. The family picked up the keys during a dedication ceremony Wednesday — Habitat's fifth since getting its first build off the ground two years ago.
"Habitat truly made a dream come true for Hailee and I," said Fraser, 26, referring to the importance of raising her two-year-old daughter in a home to call her own.
"Thanks to all of you, Hailee will get to grow up in a stable, safe and clean environment. She will be get to play outside on the grass instead of a parking lot, not to mention make friends for life by staying at the same school instead of moving all over the place, which I did, making it hard to bond with anyone."
Later, she smiled as she said, "This is my first home."
The local chapter of the not-for-profit housing builder provides new homes to families based on need. Those who are accepted must be able to afford to pay for the interest-free mortgage.
They must also complete 500 hours of labour, either at their own home or on another Habitat project. This 'sweat equity' debt is something that Fraser has only just begun to chip away at but she knows that there are plenty of local opportunities on the horizon. Right now, she's just happy to move her stuff and settle in.
"This is an incredible day," she said. "We're so thankful to everyone who has helped make today a reality. I thought home ownership was a dream and out of reach, but today we've been able to catch that dream."
Family housing in a family city
As the city's representative at the presentation, Coun. Cathy Heron referenced the recent Today's Parent magazine article that named St. Albert the best place in Canada to raise a family. She said it's vital to make sure that parents don't break the bank while doing so.
"Affordable housing is recognized as a basic human right," she said, adding the province has made it a priority for action, one St. Albert has embraced.
The private sector has done its part, including Daytona Homes, the company that built and donated the townhouse to Habitat.
President Tally Hutchinson handed over the keys personally.
"I know that living here in St. Albert … is a wonderful place to grow your family," he told Fraser. "It's a wonderful place and opportunity to give back to your community."
Habitat chair Susan Green also emphasized that importance.
"It is said that home ownership is the cornerstone of a strong community. We work diligently to ensure that a growing number of hard-working families experience the joys of home ownership and have that opportunity to contribute to the vibrancy of their community."
Green added she is really pleased at how receptive St. Albert is to the organization's efforts since its first homes were built in North Ridge only two years ago.
"It's really remarkable. The city has really embraced Habitat."
This isn't the only activity that the organization is conducting in the city. Ground has already been broken at 70 Arlington Dr., the location of Aurora Place, a 30-unit townhouse development.
The project will be built in stages, with eight being framed in September. Four will be finished by the end of the year and the other half soon thereafter. Construction on the remaining 22 units will start sometime in 2012.
