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A new door is opening for Samantha Kyle and her two daughters in their home built by Habitat for Humanity Sault Ste. Marie & Area.
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The family of three became the 13th Habitat homeowners this weekend, moving into a semi-detached house on Wellington Street West.
“ It means having more freedom with my family to enjoy the things that we do together,” Kyle told The Sault Star in the kitchen of her new residence.
She likes sewing and doing crafts. Michaela and Rylee, both 12, will enjoy being closer to skating opportunities at Esposito and Clergue parks.
The Kyles have lived at a central-area apartment since 2014. But two members of the family were diagnosed with asthma two years ago, a health concern Kyle points to the former building she called home. She’s looking forward to seeing what impact their new residence will on the breathing difficulties with the hope of returning to past athletic pursuits.
“ Sometimes there’s issues” with neighbouring residents at the apartment building, Kyle adds.
“ You have a lot of people living in a small area, things can get heated pretty quickly,” she said.
Habitat for Humanity homeowners pay a geared-to-income mortgage. They also contribute 500 hours of volunteer service instead of making a down payment. Kyle volunteered at the ReStore. Artwork by her daughters highlighting what family and Habitat for Humanity means to them have been shared on social media.
The family is living in Habitat’s first two-storey home in the Sault. Another family is being sought for the adjoining property.
Habitat for Humanity received 183 applications from Sault residents hoping to live at the Steelton home.
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“ The amount of people who dream of home ownership, but will never be able to get there without the assistance of an organization like us” is “just insane,” said executive director Katie Blunt.
“ It just demonstrates the need for affordable housing in Sault Ste. Marie,” she told reporters on Saturday. “It’s absolutely absurd how many applications we’ve received.”
Families seeking improved housing include single parents, Indigenous and newcomer families and seniors with accessibility needs or who have custody of their grandchildren.
Habitat has shifted the timeline of its upcoming projects due to the impact COVID-19 has had on its ReStore hours and ability to hold fundraisers to raise cash.
Construction of a fiveplex at 661 Goulais Ave., is now pushed to 2023. Work in 2022 will centre on an accessible, single-family three-bedroom home at 23 Blake St. Construction is expected to start next spring or summer with occupancy by year end.
Dates are tentative because Habitat “can’t always predict right now what’s going on with the pandemic and whether or not there’s going to be a fourth of fifth wave with the variants,” said Blunt.
Habitat’s goal is to build at least a home for a family per year.
Previously submitted applications will be reviewed “to determine whether or not there’s any families that might be eligible” for the Blake Street residence.
Habitat for Humanity is planning, subject to the pandemic, a gala at The Machine Shop on Dec. 10. The event features a dinner, dance and DJ. Tickets are $80 each and include a $40 tax receipt. Sales start in early November.
A Catch the Ace fundraiser ran 49 weeks with Anik Dufour winning $10,925 in October.
On Twitter: @Saultreporter
'More freedom' awaits in Habitat home - Sault Star
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