A family chosen to live in one of two new duplexes planned for Olds by Habitat for Humanity Mountain View chapter (HFHMVC), says it's a chance for a better life.
Brandy Hodgson, 33, is a single mom with two kids: Tyson Pratt, 11, and Taya, 6.
They spoke to the Albertan during a HFHMVC open house at the Olds Municipal Library. The town has donated land to HFHMVC in east Olds. Construction of the first of two duplexes is expected to begin this spring and be completed this fall.
"I left a bad relationship three years ago with nothing," Hodgson said. "(Since then) we've been renting and it's expensive - really expensive."
Hodgson, a financial representative for a bank, said the rent for the house they live in is $1,150 a month, which is "about half of my take-home income." She noted she has to pay for utilities and other expenses on top of that.
Hodgson said obtaining a Habitat For Humanity home will not only cut the family's expenses, but also build pride of ownership.
Hodgson said they could likely never own a home otherwise. She said this way, she'll be "showing my kids what they could do in the future."
Tyson hopes the new house they'll be living in will result in "better neighbours."
Taya said she likes the house they live in now, but would like to live in a new one.
Under the rules of Habitat For Humanity, the Hodgson family has to put in a certain amount of "sweat equity," helping to build the home and/or doing other volunteer work.
So the family has been volunteering at the food bank, Habitat For Humanity's Restore and helping to feed the homeless in Calgary.
Hodgson learned about the chance to get into a HFHMVC home last year.
"My friend actually wanted to volunteer for a build and when she went on the website to look, she said, ëthis would be perfect for your family,'" Hodgson said.
"I had a very different view of what Habitat was. I didn't really know, but I thought it was for homeless people, basically. So when I actually read up on it, I realized we are a good candidate for what they're looking for."
So they came to a HFHMC information session last spring.
"I left a bad relationship three years ago with nothing. (Since then) we've been renting and it's expensive - really expensive."BRANDY HODGSON
