The need has never been greater for Habitat for Humanity.
They have more than 10 families on their waiting list, up from the usual two or three families, and board chairman Andrew Campbell expects the number of applications to rise in the wake of the May 28 flood.
So the organization was relieved when Bombardier Transportation said they would sponsor the next two builds.
Pitching in $75,000 per house, the company is making the financial donation, as well as offering up volunteers, to mark their 20th anniversary in the city. The first Bombardier-sponsored house is being built on Home Avenue, Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay’s 24th house, right behind the Montreal Street plant.
Campbell said the donation is significant and it frees them up to move onto the next house for the next family.
“This one is taken care of,” he said. “We’re working on the 26th, 27th, 28th home. It allows us to look that much further into the future.”
Along with the financial donation, the group of volunteers the company brings is also significant, Campbell said, adding it also helps elevate the profile of the project.
Rheanna Scott and her 13-month-old son Aiden will be moving into the house in the fall and Scott said she was surprised when she heard Bombardier was stepping in to sponsor the build.
“Never in a million years did I think a sponsor that big would be involved. They have been absolutely amazing, very helpful, very friendly,” she said. “I actually owe them the world as well.”
Aiden was born prematurely and suffer from health issues like bronchitis and asthma. The family is now living in an apartment building that is not smoke-free, keeping Aiden from living a healthy life.
“With this, he has a happy, safe environment. I don’t have to worry about smoke and all the noise of living in an apartment building,” she said.
