Town council has approved the land sale of one lot on 102 Street that will go toward Habitat for Humanity NWT鈥檚 next build.
Council authorized the sale for $1 at a special meeting, Jan. 31.
The lot, located at 17鈥�102 Street, has a value of $18,999 and is one of 10 that the town is seeking to develop in the near future for lower-income housing on Vale Island.
A family is expected to occupy the three-bedroom, one-bathroom modular Habitat home in the fall.
The other nine lots were listed on the municipality鈥檚 website for open bid auction as of Jan. 26.
Alayna Ward, executive director for Habitat for Humanity NWT, said that council鈥檚 approval is a significant step in moving the project forward this year.
鈥淗aving support from the Town of Hay River and from council in donating that lot makes a humongous difference,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f we didn鈥檛 have that donation 鈥� it would make it really difficult for us to build because the concept is to keep the home affordable.
鈥淚f we had to purchase land then it just wouldn鈥檛 make sense for the families because the home would not no longer be affordable.鈥�
Ward said she鈥檚 pleased to help with Hay River鈥檚 housing solutions as demand is high.
鈥淓verybody knows that housing is a major issue throughout the entire territory,鈥� she said. 鈥淗ay River is great because it鈥檚 outside of the capital region. We also have good contacts there with contractors.
鈥淏ut we also know that the town has a major, major housing need and that there鈥檚 so many people that are in need of affordable housing. After the loss of (Mackenzie Place apartments in a 2019 fire), we know there鈥檚 a really big need for affordable housing.鈥�
The official transfer of land is the next step before and the family application process is to be announced in the near future.
Site preparation and blasting will take place before a modular unit is placed on the lot as warmer weather returns.
鈥淭here鈥檚 quite a bit of preparation that needs to be done even though it鈥檚 a modular unit,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he premise with a modular is still the same, it is just that it is not a stick-build. So the family will still have the opportunity to participate in building, in the cleanup of the site or with things like decking and the skirting.鈥�
Criteria to apply
Ward said that there are misconceptions when applying for Habitat housing.
Successful families are expected to provide a down-payment with 500 volunteer hours of 鈥渟weat equity鈥� and are financed with affordable, no-interest mortgages. Rates do not exceed 30 per cent of a family鈥檚 gross income to keep the home affordable.
鈥淥ne thing that we鈥檙e really trying to do as an organization is highlight that it is an affordable home-ownership program, it鈥檚 not social housing,鈥� said Ward.
Families are eligible if they are ready for home ownership but can鈥檛 attain a bank mortgage.
Yellowknife and Dettah
Habitat for Humanity NWT completed two builds in 2021 in Yellowknife and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation community of Dettah 鈥� the first community outside of the capital.
According to a Dec. 18 news release issued by the organization, families were situated in each of the homes and an official ceremony is expected in those communities this spring.
Those builds marked the beginning of a partnership between Habitat for Humanity and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, whereby the federal body committed $3.4 million towards 10 builds over five years.
With the Yellowknife and Dettah builds complete, there are eight remaining over four years. Each of those years will have at least one build outside of Yellowknife.
Mayor Kandis Jameson said the town鈥檚 donation represents a positive move in helping address housing needs.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 good for the community,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have a lot of housing issues and I think this just helps everybody. There鈥檚 an opportunity here for somebody in need to get support.
鈥淲e all know what Habitat for Humanity does where everybody contributes.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to be part of the project and I think it鈥檚 good news for Hay River.鈥�
