Construction on the first of two Habitat for Humanity Mountain View duplexes to be built in east Olds is expected to begin in late July or early August and be completed by Christmas or sooner, officials say.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the project, to be constructed on what was formerly a town-owned lot at 4826 52nd St. in Olds, was held June 28.
Habitat for Humanity builds homes for people who otherwise couldn't afford them. As part of the agreement, families who will live in them provide "sweat equity" by helping to build the homes and/or doing at least 500 hours of community service.
Mortgages are structured so that they will never exceed 30 per cent of each family's income.
So far, Habitat for Humanity Mountain View has built nine homes in the county. This year two more homes, numbers 10 and 11, will be constructed on the lot this year. It's hoped construction of a second duplex on the lot can begin next year.
This project has been in the works for about four years.
So far, one family -- Brandy Hodgson her children Tyson and Taya Pratt -- has been found to inhabit one half of one of the duplexes.
Amy Christiansen, the family services chair of the Mountain View County chapter of Habitat for Humanity, says they're close to confirming a family for the second half of that first duplex. Then families will be recruited for both sides of the second duplex.
About 40 people attended the groundbreaking ceremony, including representatives of Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta. The Mountain View County chapter is under the Southern Alberta wing.
Others on hand included Mayor Judy Dahl and several members of town council; Lyle Stevenson, president of Stevenson Homes, who has been hired to oversee construction of the duplexes; HFHMV construction chair Kelly Craig, who ensures all the permits, etc., are in place for the build; Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper; as well as representatives of ATB Financial and Home Hardware, which are also involved in the project.
"We're very excited about these builds because we know that affordable housing is something that is a needed cost in our province," CEO and president of Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta Gerrad Oishi said, noting the Olds project is one of several planned across southern Alberta.
Dahl said town council is "very proud" to provide the land for the duplexes.
The land for the two duplexes used to house big equipment. There are several vents in the ground. Stevenson and Craig assured the Albertan that they won't create a problem for the project.
They said they were installed to ensure gas, oil, etc., from those machines were eliminated from the ground and won't pose an environmental risk to residents.
"They're very easy. You just slip them out," Stevenson said.
"We've got the green light from Environment Alberta to go ahead and build four homes on this property," Craig said.
Christiansen praised Hodgson and her children for not only completing the required 500 hours of sweat equity very quickly, but also for serving as great ambassadors for Habitat for Humanity, reassuring nervous potential families that it's a good thing, and easy to participate in.
"I feel like we've reached a milestone, so I'm relieved. But I'm also very, very excited to see it come together. So I'm super excited for Brandy and the kids to be able to watch this house grow," she told the Albertan.
Christiansen is confident that when construction of the first duplex gets underway, that will "just rejuvenate everyone's efforts towards the next one," including the recruitment of more families.
She said Hodgson and her children will likely be able to contribute more sweat equity by actually helping to put the finishing touches on their new home.
"We can have them come in. You know, when they're ready for painting, the kids can paint their own bedrooms or anything like that so that they're tied in ñ it's not just ëoh, OK, now you get the home and we're going to build it and you can't see it until it's done.' That's not what we want. We want them to be involved, for sure," she said.
Hodgson said it feels good to see ground actually broken for their new home, adding it feels like it's "one step closer" to becoming reality.
She said her kids are getting pumped too.
"They're excited," she said. "I don't think it's fully set in yet, but this is getting us closer to that."
"I feel like we've reached a milestone, so I'm relieved. But I'm also very, very excited to see it come together. So I'm super excited for Brandy and the kids to be able to watch this house grow."AMY CHRISTIANSENFAMILY SERVICES CHAIR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY MOUNTAIN VIEW
