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Habitat for Humanity build in Campbell River well under way

Two families have been chosen to move into the homes when completed
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Jocelyn Doll/Campbell River Mirror Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North is working on the first of two duplexes they plan on building this year on a property in Campbell River where they plan on building two more duplexes and a triplex to house 11 families in total.

Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North’s build project on 477 Hilchey Road is underway, and the first three homeowner families have been hard at work helping to construct the first duplex.

The first duplex will be home to Amy and Stefan Odowichuk and their two children, Gavin (9) and Ashli (6), and Bobbi Frederick and her two youngest children, Thea (13) and Skye (8).

The Odowichuks will be leaving behind a rental with many health and safety issues. A Habitat home for them will be “a safe and healthy place that is warm and inviting. A place we can enjoy raising our family and the kids can be kids.”

Frederick is most excited to provide a permanent home for her family to make memories in, and to not have to worry about moving again. She says, “I want to have a place where my children and their children can feel safe and secure. I want to be able to provide a place we can call our own and not anticipate another move.”

Habitat for Humanity partners with families in need of safe, affordable housing, but the homes are not given away for free. Habitat homeowners work side by side with other volunteers for several months, both at the Restore and on the build site, to put in a total of 500 hours of sweat equity in lieu of down payments. They then purchase the homes from Habitat and pay affordable mortgages set at 30 per cent of their household incomes.

For Stefan, one of the best parts of becoming a future Habitat Homeowner are the volunteers he has met and worked beside.

“The volunteers have amazed me by how much they put in. Time, sweat, and hard work for families they just met.”

Habitat still needs additional Campbell River volunteers to make the dream of home ownership a reality for these families.

If you are interested in volunteering on this build project, contact Habitat’s Build Volunteer Coordinator Lynnette Hornung at lynnette@habitatnorthisland.com or (250) 830-1493 Ext. 223. You can also schedule yourself for a shift directly at habitatnorthisland.volunteermatrix.com.