‘A little surreal:’ Two Halifax-area families break ground on Habitat for Humanity homes (4 photos)

By Alex Cooke

Two single mothers from Halifax are getting ready to move into a new home this fall – something they say they’d never be able to do without the help of the Nova Scotia division of Habitat for Humanity.

Community members and representatives with the organization gathered on Drysdale Road in Spryfield Thursday afternoon to witness the groundbreaking of a future duplex that will house the two families.

Alyson Young, who has three children, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis around four years ago and was forced her to leave her job because of her illness.

Now working on a psychology degree at Mount Saint Vincent University, she told HalifaxToday.ca that Habitat for Humanity is keeping her condition in mind as they start work on the home.

“They decided that they’d like to make this home as accessible as possible for any future needs that I might have, whether it be a wheelchair, a walker, any accessibility issues, which is incredible,” she said, adding that her symptoms now are manageable but may get worse as time goes on.

“I would never be able to find that in an apartment, in homeownership, to be able to do the modifications and build them from scratch myself.”

Young will be sharing the building with Christa Hamilton, who also has three children.

She said she’s grateful that the home will provide her family with a safe place to live.

“It’s still a little surreal,” said Hamilton. “Living conditions down at my place aren’t so great, so it’s nice to at least have a change and feel safe, and know it’s going to be mine in the end; something my kids can have.”

Habitat for Humanity doesn’t give homes away for free: recipients need to invest 500 volunteer hours into building the home, and they will also have to pay an interest-free mortgage based on their income.

They don’t, however, need to make a down payment, which Stephen Doane, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia, said makes all the difference.

“Our whole mandate is to help these families have a home. It changes their lives, it really does. They’re happier, their kids do better in school, they tend to be able to get better jobs,” he said.

“It’s a completely life-changing experience for them.”

He said the project – the sixth Habitat for Humanity home on the street – is slated to be completed in early fall, with the families settled into their new home by the holidays. The organization also plans on developing a further 90 homes for families in the coming years, making the area the largest Habitat for Humanity development in Canada.

The build efforts are dedicated to the memory of Stuart Jolliffe, former general manager for Delta Barrington and Delta Hotel Halifax.

Jolliffe, who died in April, was a major supporter of Habitat for Humanity and was instrumental in founding Raise a Little Hellp, an annual fundraiser for the organization.

“That fundraising initiative was a big part of what allowed us to actually purchase the land the houses are being built on right here,” said Doane. “His legacy will live on with all these families, that allowed them the dream of actually owning a home.”

Sean Doucet, director of operations with Delta Halifax, said he worked with Jolliffe for 16 years and described him as “an absolutely amazing mentor, always willing to do anything good for the community.”

During his time in Halifax, Jolliffe was a prominent member of the Nova Scotia music scene, sitting on the board of Music Nova Scotia and sponsoring a number of musical events through Delta Hotels.

Doucet said Habitat for Humanity was just one of many causes Jolliffe was involved with, listing Hope Cottage, a local soup kitchen, and Bryony House, a shelter for women and children, as other organizations Jolliffe was passionate about.

According to Habitat for Humanity, Jolliffe was responsible for raising more than $650,000 through Raise a Little Hellp.

“We just felt so good about that, to be able to build houses and buy properties for people who really are in need,” said Doucet.

The event on Thursday was attended by district councillor Steve Adams and Halifax-Atlantic MLA Brendan Maguire, who both voiced their support for the project.

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