THUNDER BAY – Nine-year-old Donnalynn Laughton says she felt bad her mother had to sleep in the dining room in the last place they lived, a one-bedroom basement apartment rental.
It’s a sacrifice Shelly Laughton was only too happy to make, having moved from place to place after mould issues at the place they’d called home for eight years started making the two of them sick.
Donnalynn just wanted a place to call their own.
Two weeks ago the mother and daughter’s dream finally came true, when they were handed the keys to a cozy, brand-new bungalow on McPherson Street, thanks to Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay.
“I’m happy we both have our own room,” said Donnalyn, who is visually impaired and can easily get around the open-concept layout of her new home.
“If mom didn’t have me, this would never have happened,” the visually impaired youngster said.
Shelley Laughton said being given a mortgage by Habitat for Humanity is a life-changing moment.
She’s always wanted to give her daughter a brand new home, but just couldn’t make it happen financially.
“I rented for eight years on Northern Avenue and the house was OK, but it wasn’t very good for us and in a bad neighbourhood,” said Laughton, who also brought along four-year old dog Honey to her new home. “I’m pretty excited and happy that we can have this home.”
The emotions are pretty high – or at least they will be, she added.
“I don’t think that’s kicked in yet. We’ve been so busy and so crazy the past few weeks,” the happy mother said.
Habitat for Humanity helps would-be homeowners enter into the housing market by collectively building new homes on land donated to the organization. The homeowner is given an affordable, low-interest mortgage that they otherwise might not have secured going through a financial institution.
Randy Moore, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay, said the impact of the work being done can have a wide-reaching effect, despite being focused toward a single family – or in the case of next year’s build on Leith Street, two families.
“One of the differences between us and a lot of other charities is a lot of charities affect a great number of people in a small way. We have a very significant impact on a smaller number of people,” he said. “We deal with people who have struggled to make that step to become a homeowner, whether it was because they just haven’t been able to save enough or their bills are too expensive.
“Rent in Thunder Bay can be pretty outrageous at times. We’re able to help them become homeowners and from there, families thrive. They’re able to save ... and eventually see children move on to university and it changes their lives and the lives of their entire family.”
About 40 families applied to be the recipient of this year's home.
