Medicine Hat's Habitat for Humanity branch will provide a place to live for two families at the new property. Burt Johnson/Dreamstime.com

By Eli J. Ridder

Habitat for Humanity receives discount on new Medicine Hat property

Jul 2, 2024 | 9:08 PM

Medicine Hat’s local Habitat for Humanity will buy new property to build a duplex at half price after city council approved a discount Tuesday.

The original $119,800 price for 5244/5240 Southlands Dr. SE was reduced to $59,900 as a result of council’s unanimous decision.

Coun. Robert Dumanowski, who has supported similar discounts for the organization in the past, said it’s a way to utilize the city’s vast property holdings in a positive way.

“In many of these cases, these are infill developments, these are lands that have not had proposals come forward,” Dumanowski told CHAT News after the meeting.

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“We have the opportunity to partner with excellent groups like Habitat for Humanity to see the development of those lands in a constructive way, benefitting the vulnerable citizenry we have in our community,” he added.

Coun. Robert Dumanowski has supported property discounts to Habitat for Humanity in the past. Kevin Kyle/CHAT News

“When you think about why we exist as a civic government, it is to partner with such groups, so I’m proudly supporting that today.”

The nonprofit Habitat for Humanity supports families through its affordable home ownership program that provides options include no down payment, interest-free mortgage and geared-to-income monthly payments.

The local branch of the Southern Alberta Habitat for Humanity has built 12 homes for 15 families in Medicine Hat, having a positive impact on 39 children, according to a staff report.

Habitat for Humanity will build a new duplex in Medicine Hat for two more families with the discounted property.

It also intends to fundraise to cover the cost of the land and the project and seek opportunities for funding from other levels of government.

The organization plans to launch planning, submitting permits and launching development by the end of 2024.