THUNDER BAY – Melissa Keefe is about to be a first-time homeowner.
As a single mother of four, it’s a life-changing moment.
On Thursday her family took their latest step toward having a home of their own, helping officials from Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay at a sod-turning ceremony at an empty lot on Leith Street on the city’s south side.
“It means big changes, obviously financially and emotionally,” said Keefe, who will be joined in her half of the planned duplex by daughters Alexis Laird, 8, and Alana Ironstand, 13, and sons Kevin Ironstand, 17, and Kyle Ironstand, 10.
“It’s been hard. Being a single mother and trying to raise four kids isn’t easy.”
It also means a chance to move out of one of the city’s more notorious neighbourhoods.
“I’m in Limbrick right now. It’s low-income housing, but really, I’m paying the maximum, so I’ll be saving a lot of money with this house.”
Shanda Woodbeck and her four children will occupy the other side of the structure, which will start to be constructed in the coming weeks and be completed by October.
“It means the world to us. We’ve been living in a three-bedroom place. I adopted my niece and nephew, which put me out into the living room. To have my own bedroom alone, to be able to close the door, it’s going to be amazing,” Woodbeck said.
“We couldn’t be more thankful for this opportunity.”
It’s also going to mean a huge lifestyle change for the family.
Woodbeck has been working multiple jobs to support her four children, Bryce Muratagic, 17, Brandon Woodbeck, 16, Sierra Woodbeck, 11, and Zackary Woodbeck, 9.
“I did promise them that if we had this opportunity I would slow down and try to work just one job, instead of the three, so I’m more at home with the family.”
That suits young Sierra just fine.
“It’s was really surprising that we got the house,” Sierra said.
The eight children had an added surprise, each receiving a new laptop computer courtesy of Everlast Windows and Doors, a gold sponsor of the Habitat build.
“The laptops were so cool. Bryce and Brandon are going to help me and Zack set them up,” Sierra said.
The sod-turning marked the start of Habitat for Humanity’s 32nd build in Thunder Bay. The organization provides low-interest mortgages to families who can’t quite afford to purchase a home under more traditional means, but show they’re deserving.
Randy Moore, the local branch’s chief executive officer, said it’s their biggest endeavour yet.
“It’s the first time we’re going to be housing 10 people,” he said. “It’s going to be a difficult process, but an incredibly rewarding process.”
The impact is phenomenal.
“We help out families like our two families this year, who are prime examples of what we call the working poor – a single mom trying to raise four kids on a salary and who receives no government assistance,” Moore said.
“But when you’re paying $1,000-plus rent a month, and trying to raise four children, no matter what you do, you can’t get ahead.”
Recipients are required to work a minimum number of hours in sweat equity in their new homes, and must meet monthly mortgage payments.
