Fifty-four people are home for the holidays after receiving the keys to their new houses completed in a massive Habitat for Humanity build in southeast Edmonton over the summer.
The homes were part of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project (CWP) that saw the former U.S. president and first lady in Edmonton for the build that will complete 58 homes.
“The support for this build has been incredible,” Habitat for Humanity Edmonton president and CEO Alfred Nikolai said. “It’s rewarding to know that nine families will be in their new homes to celebrate the holiday season.”
Abdikarim Bakal and his family were the first to be handed the key to their house Thursday. Bakal, along with his wife and six of his children, toured the fourplex and quickly started planning where to put their furniture.
“Oh, the freshest smell of the paint and the tile and new home,” said an excited Bakal.
“Nobody lived before in this house; we are the first people coming in and living in and we call it our home.”
The last time Bakal was in his home was when he was helping volunteers and donors put down tile.
Bakal’s family has lived in south Edmonton for the past 15 years. His daughter, Hodan Bakal, 20, called owning a home a dream come true.
“Me and my siblings are like, ‘this is going to be my room, I’m going to decorate it this way and that way.’ It’s really exciting.”
During the July build, Carter called the Edmonton project “one of the best we’ve ever had.”
“It’s because the people in Edmonton work so hard to make Habitat a success, whether we’re here or not.”
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Interview with Jimmy Carter about massive Habitat for Humanity project in Edmonton -
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Longtime Habitat for Humanity volunteer talks about why he stays involved -
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Habitat for Humanity home means a lot to single mom’s family -
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Habitat for Humanity volunteers travel the world to help -
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Former U.S. president in Edmonton for Habitat for Humanity -
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Habitat for Humanity volunteer recounts becoming a homeowner -
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A closer look at Habitat for Humanity’s Carter Work Project -
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Global News at 5 Edmonton: On the Road at Habitat for Humanity build -
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1,000 volunteers in hand at massive Habitat for Humanity build led by Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter in Edmonton -
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Largest Habitat for Humanity project in Edmonton gets underway with volunteer breakfast
Habitat for Humanity works to build homes for those who struggle to save for a down payment on a traditional home. Instead of a monetary down payment, families must put in work on their future home for 500 hours.
The Bakal’s, like every other chosen Habitat family, put in the 500 hours of sweat-equity.
“We don’t give them anything for free,” said Nikolai.
The Habitat for Humanity homes are sold to families at market value, but with zero per cent interest. The mortgage also helps prevent families from being house-poor.
Twenty-five per cent of their paycheck will go toward the mortgage.
“That leaves them 75 per cent of their paycheque to buy their kids winter boots, to buy their kids groceries, to take their kids to the dentist,” said Nikolai.
“You take a Habitat homeowner family, where they have been dependent on public welfare or help from the government, and all of a sudden they become full taxpayers; they become equal citizens and they have confidence in themselves for the first time,” Carter said in July.
Bakal met Carter twice during his building blitz and was inspired by Carter’s hard work and dedication to his home.
“It’s a privilege again to see that my home is done.”
LISTEN: President Carter sits down with Corus Radio Edmonton during CWP build in July
In 2017, Habitat for Humanity set a goal to build 150 homes for Canada 150. Seventy-five homes were built in Edmonton and Fort Saskatchewan.
About 14,000 volunteers were involved in the Edmonton project.
Carter Place, named for the former president and first lady, will consist of 58 family homes once it’s complete and will house nearly 200 children.
The next wave of families are expected to be handed their keys in February, and the project build complete by next Christmas.
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