Habitat for Humanity breaks ground on newest Medicine Hat build

Habitat for Humanity says they haven’t built a home in Medicine Hat since 2012.

President and CEO of the Southern Alberta chapter Gerrad Oishi says a combination of a few things made this new build happen.

“When we embark upon a build it’s really a function of the community coming together and saying we that want to make this happen. We’ve been very lucky that’s we’ve always had a restore in Southern Alberta and we have a really dedicated committee. In the last three years it’s really come together for us though, where we’ve been able to maintain land at a price we can afford, we’ve been able to fundraise and put together the funding, and have been able to connect to two terrific families,” he said.

Oishi says they try to build their homes around the $250,000 mark price tag per unit.

“The city gave us this land at a discount so that was really great. The province of Alberta has come in to help support us. It is quite amazing actually to see, in addition, the people that are celebrating today, there are actually thousands of people who have donated, or shopped at our Restore or supported us in some other way to allow this build to happen.”

Medicine Hat’s construction chair Annette Fahselt-Andreas says Habitat for Humanity worked hard for two years to qualify both families and they got the green light at the end of 2019.

“Both single moms, both have young girls, both actively involved in the community right now trying to complete their volunteer hours. One mom was here today, the other one has chosen that she doesn’t want to be represented,” she said.

As for move-in timelines for the families, she expects it will be roughly 10 months.

Fahselt-Andreas says Habitat of Humanity in Medicine Hat has helped 12 families.

And she thanked their partners in the community.

by Chantal Wagner

Habitat for Humanity breaks ground on newest Medicine Hat build

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