The Good Shepherd Legacy Project is Habitat for Humanity Kingston’s latest build, and will incorporate three duplexes as well as a community centre and chapel to replace the soon-to-be-torn down church.
Staff and volunteers are wrapping up work on the first of three duplexes, and are looking forward to move-in day next month.
“They know full well that these are the people that helped them realize their dream of home-ownership,” said Chris Catry, Habitat Kingston Resource Development Coordinator. “It’s really emotional, but it’s an extremely happy time.”
Don Grey is the mastermind behind this current Habitat build. He was brought in from Prince Edward Island, and has worked on about five homes a year for the last 31.
Knowing whom the homes are being built for makes all the work extra special. “These are people who cannot afford a normal mortgage,” Grey said. “They have to have a job in order to get a Habitat for Humanity house, but they may not be making the most amount of money.”
The soon-to-be homeowners are required to put in 500 hours of “sweat equity” to help with the build, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be the home they’ll move into.
Volunteers are heavily relied upon by Habitat for Humanity. The number of volunteers will vary from day to day — but usually peaks on Saturdays when most are off from their regular day jobs.
Their experience levels varies as well.
“They may or may not have any construction skills,” Grey said. “If they do, it’s wonderful. If they don’t, I will teach them the types of things that we need done.”
Once the current duplex is built, the former Good Shepherd church will be torn down to make room for the last two, as well as a community centre. The entire project should wrap up sometime this summer.