Home ownership seemed impossible to Irene Abatangana when she arrived in Canada one year ago.
Originally from Rwanda, Abatangana and her husband James Tushiyime struggled to save money for a house because of the high cost of food and rent.
“Saving for a house, it was like a dream for us,” she said.
“Each time our rent increased, we had to move again, and it’s hard to build a life when you’re constantly starting over.”
Now, she and her husband have a chance to truly start their lives in Canada. On April 1, Abatangana and Tushiyime officially got the keys for their new home in St. Albert’s Midtown neighbourhood courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Edmonton.
Habitat broke ground on four affordable homes in Midtown last August with the support of Averton, $100,000 from the City of St. Albert, and $900,000 from the provincial and federal governments. The homes were earmarked for Black families under the federal Black Families Funding Initiative.
About 40 people gathered outside the homes on April 1 for the official handover of the homes to their new owners.
St. Albert Coun. Mike Killick congratulated the four families for getting their new homes.
“You’re not just receiving keys that will open the front door — and hopefully the back door — but keys that will open the future for you to live in our beautiful, wonderful, welcoming community, and help you build a prosperous and happy future here.”
Hand-up homes
The four three-bedroom, three-storey, 1,300 square foot homes are part of a six-unit block of condos on Rondeau Drive east of the Enjoy Centre. They were the second block of homes built by Habitat in St. Albert; the first were the 30 duplexes at Aurora Place.
Habitat’s Home Ownership program sees owners commit to 500 hours of volunteer work in their communities in exchange for an affordable home, said Ann-Marie Reddy, president of Habitat for Humanity Edmonton. Habitat covers half the home’s cost and does not require a down payment.
“These aren’t forever homes,” she noted — in about 10 years, these families will sell these homes back to Habitat and use the equity they gained to buy a market-priced one. Habitat, meanwhile, will renovate the homes and sell them to another family in need.
Affordable housing helps families build equity, put down roots, and give back to their communities, Killick said. City council is working to build more affordable housing at 22 St. Thomas Street, construction of which would start as soon as the province agrees to fund the project. Council also got $11.8 million from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund last month to speed up its permitting process, which should also make homes cheaper.
Abatangana said she loves her home’s new counters, bathroom, and view, and already has plans to add flowers to the front yard.
“I love to cook, so this kitchen is my happy place.”
Abatangana said she and her husband plan to give back to St. Albert by volunteering at community clean-ups and at Habitat’s ReStore locations. They also hope to start a family. She thanked all the donors and supporters who helped make this home possible.
“Now, I look around and I see more than walls and windows. I see the start of everything we’ve dreamed of.”
Visit hfh.org/home-ownership for more on Habitat’s Home Ownership program.
