Lesley Drake (left) with her two kids accept the keys to their new home on Vista Trail from Mayor of Blackfalds Jamie Hoover (right). (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

By Alessia Proietti

Home Dedication Ceremony

Habitat for Humanity Red Deer presents keys to four families

Apr 14, 2023 | 6:00 PM

Red Deerian Lindsey Drake was staying at a friend’s house with her two kids after her living situation snowballed into the unbearable.

Living in a two bedroom house, sharing a bed with her five-year-old daughter, her landlord left her without a fridge for two weeks, among other challenges, while still charging $1,375 per month.

On Thursday, she was given the keys, with tears in her eyes, to her brand new home in Blackfalds from Habitat for Humanity Red Deer.

“The fact that we have affordable accommodations is amazing. It’s going to make life so much easier; it’s going to help me provide for my kids, give my kids a future, an actual future, where I’m not struggling to make sure that we can pay the bills each month,” she said before giving a heartfelt speech of gratitude to the crowd.

She said her 10-year-old son described the feeling as being “elated” while her daughter “happy danced” all week.

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The organization held a home dedication ceremony for the new homeowners on April 13 at the properties on 5616 Vista Trail. In attendance were Leland Corbett from Habitat for Humanity Canada, Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Ron Orr, Red Deer-Lacombe MP Blaine Calkins, Blackfalds Mayor Jamie Hoover, and Red Deer Mayor Ken Johnston, among families, donors, volunteers, and community partners.

Many gathered for the Home Dedication Ceremony on Thursday at Habitat for Humanity’s latest build in Blackfalds. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

The build project, consisting of two duplexes, is Phase II of affordable housing units built in the Town of Blackfalds. Since 2021, a total of eight affordable housing units have been built in the Town by Habitat Red Deer.

“After 11 months of building, we are thrilled to be welcoming four new homeowner families as the newest Blackfalds residents. Each family has contributed 500 volunteer hours as part of their partnership commitment, working alongside more than 250 volunteers over the course of this build. We are so grateful for the tremendous support from our dedicated donors and partners to help make these families’ dreams of homeownership become reality,” said Karen Vavrek, Habitat Red Deer CEO.

She said they received 20 applications for the homes and that chosen families have demonstrated a core housing need through the spending of over 30 per cent of their income in their current housing, and inadequate housing deemed unsafe or not large enough for their family.

Karen Vavrek, Habitat for Humanity Red Deer Chief Executive Officer. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

Under the Government of Canada’s National Housing Strategy, a 10-year plan investing over $82 billion to give more Canadians a place to call home, the National Housing Co-Investment Fund is a program that gives priority to projects to help people who need it most. Its target includes women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous peoples, people living with disabilities, those with mental health or addiction issues, veterans, and young adults.

“Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Our government is pleased to support these four families in achieving ownership of their own homes in Blackfalds, which will help them thrive in their community. Through partnerships with incredible organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, we will continue to make a real difference here in Alberta and across Canada. This is the National Housing Strategy at work,” said Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, in a statement.

Habitat Red Deer is a registered charitable organization that builds homes in partnership with qualifying low-income, working families through a no-down-payment, interest-free mortgage program.

It has been active in central Alberta since 1994, and with the completion of phase two in Blackfalds has now built 46 homes in the region.

Vavrek says they plan to achieve their fiftieth home build with their newest project in Red Deer’s Evergreen neighbourhood, breaking ground this June.

READ MORE: Habitat for Humanity Red Deer hosts information sessions for upcoming build in Evergreen