THUNDER BAY – Ron Sawchuk is counting the days until he will be able to move into his new home.
While the Dease Street lot sits empty right now, over the next few months it will be bustling with activity as it was unveiled Monday as the site of this year’s Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay home build.
Sawchuk, who was announced as the home recipient, was largely rendered speechless by the excitement but said he was proud and happy that he will be a new homeowner.
“It’s going to be awesome,” he said after making the official ground breaking.
Lisa Foster, the executive director of Community Living Thunder Bay, said the organization has been worked with Sawchuk and it became apparent having his own home was a dream.
“He lived in a lot of different situations but never really had a place to call his own and that autonomy was important to him,” Foster said.
“This is just one wonderful way he can own a home that he may not have had the means to be able to have on his own.”
The build is part of the 34th Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, which the former U.S. president and first lady are using to mark Canada’s sesquicentennial with 150 across the country.
Dan Stezenko, who was named as the new chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay in February, said being involved in the home builds is a great experience.
“It’s one of our two big days. For us, to see our host family be able to turn the sod and see the excitement in their eyes, it’s a huge deal. It’s why we do what we do,” Stezenko said.
While home builds in Thunder Bay have traditionally housed families, Stezenko said single adults is the largest demographic in facing of affordable housing challenges.
“We look at where the need is in Thunder Bay and our family selection committee looks at not just the number of children in the family but where the greatest need is in the city,” Stezenko said. “Our partner family is a single male this time but there’s a great need to find homes for those individuals as well.”
Community assistance – either financial or time – is greatly appreciated, he added.
“It costs us a lot of money to build the homes. We have to buy all the products and we have to pay for everything,” Stezenko said. “We’re always looking for donations and we’re also looking for volunteers to help at the build site.”
The footings are expected to be in place next week and the build is scheduled to be completed by late October.
