By Dominic Abassi

Refugee family, seven children, selected for new Habitat homes in Nanaimo

Mar 9, 2017 | 4:51 PM

NANAIMO — Two local families, one living in unfit conditions for children, the other survivors of hardship in the Middle East, will soon realize the dream of home ownership.

Habitat for Humanity mid-Vancouver Island selected two families to move in to their latest homes in their Extension Rd. development. Executive director Rob Hallam said Audrey Findlay and her three children are currently living in “deplorable” conditions.

“A situation where there’s mold, lousy insulation…drug dealing happening on the street. So really unsafe for children to be living in that type of environment,” Hallam said.

Feras Saedam and Ruba Alshoura and their four children are the first refugee family the local Habitat chapter has been involved with, according to Hallam.

The family fled Iraq when the war started, only to be forced out of Syria for the same reason. They’ve now been in Canada for three years.

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“Very much established here and the need for them is very much about a secure, safe place for their children to grow up in.”

Hallam said they received 37 applications for the third and fourth homes in the Meadow Hill development, something he said speaks to “greater awareness” in the community of what their organization is doing.

He said they are excited to be creating their “own little community” with what will eventually be six homes on Extension Rd.

Hallam expected the homes to be finished by June.

Families who partner with Habitat receive an interest and down-payment free mortgage. They are required to make the payments and contribute 500 hours of “sweat equity” volunteer time.

dominic.abassi@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @domabassi