By Dominic Abassi

‘It’s going to be life-changing’: Key ceremony marks completion of Habitat community

Nov 23, 2017 | 4:59 PM

NANAIMO — A mother’s tears of joy put the finishing touches on the most ambitious project yet for Habitat for Humanity Mid-Vancouver Island.

Two families received the keys to their new homes on Thursday, the fifth and sixth built in Habitat’s Meadow Hill Development on Extension Rd.

For Bianca Myers, her partner and two children, it means an escape from a mold and pest-ridden duplex where she had to stifle the youthful exuberance of her two and four-year-olds out of respect for other tenants.

“It was really hard for me, they’re toddlers. I want them to make noise and be happy,” Myers said, bursting into tears. “Now they can make as much noise as they want, they can play the drums, sing and dance…They can be kids finally.”

Myers shared a refrain familiar to many challenged by Nanaimo’s lack of affordable housing. “All our money goes to bills. Starting where we were, we could never save money for a down payment. And now we have a forever home our girls can grow in.” 

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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. Applications for Habitat homes are carefully reviewed by a committee before a family is chosen.

Pam Schilling and her 20-year-old daughter Kaitlyn received the keys to Habitat MVI’s first ever handicap accessible home. Kaitlyn is confined to a wheelchair by a neuromuscular disease.

Schilling said she never imagined a day like this in her wildest dreams. “(Kaitlyn) has to transfer at least four times just to get into the shower, where we have no space,” she said of their current living situation. “She’s isolated in her room upstairs because we only have the one bathroom which is upstairs, so she can’t socialize downstairs with us.”

Schilling said her daughter can now cook, do dishes and she won’t have to worry about isolation leading to depression. “Here we’ll build up her self-esteem and her independence. She has free time going in and out, she can get anywhere in this house, she can do everything.”

The completion of the local Habitat chapter’s first neighbourhood also marks a huge milestone. A goal of completing 20 homes by 2020 has been reached, with 22 families now housed.

“We’re shooting to significantly increase the number of builds we’re doing…This year we’ll have built four in a single year,” Rob Hallam, Habitat executive director, said.

He said they will now focus on overcoming their biggest hurdle — acquiring land in a market where real estate is booming. Hallam added a new strategy will look to increase density on the land they do purchase.

While Nanaimo has been the main focus over recent years, Hallam said they are eyeing expansion to Duncan, Port Alberni and Parksville.

“It means everything to us that we can actually live here, have security, have safety, be healthy. It’s going to be life-changing,” Myers said.

— with files from Daryl Major and Spencer Sterritt

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi