Tanya Legare is excited to start building her new home, as the Habitat for Humanity-sponsored dwelling will provide a safe, healthy place in which her two daughters can grow up.
“I would have never guessed that I would be here. Once I became single with two girls, I didn’t know where I would go or where I would end up,” she said. “I did not think I would be owning a home in this day and age (due to the market and home prices).”
Legare first applied for a Habitat home in 2010, but did not have the qualifications to move forward. She was hesitant to make another attempt, but her family and friends convinced her it was the right time.
Once she received the call saying they had been selected to become a Habitat for Humanity partner family, “we screamed with delight.”
Legare, plus her daughters Brooklynn, 11, and Chelsea, 9, helped break ground on their future home at 914 Ominica Street West on April 11, during a sod-turning ceremony organized by Habitat for Humanity Moose Jaw.
With the foundation of the building behind them, the Legares, along with politicians and dignitaries, used gold shovels to symbolically kick off construction. Building the new 1,400-square-foot house is expected to take nine months, with the Legares having to contribute 500 hours of sweat equity labour. It will have three bedrooms, giving Legare’s daughters their own rooms and extra space.
This is the nine home Habitat for Humanity has built in Moose Jaw since 2008. The house is expected to be worth $250,000.
More than 100 families have applied for a Habitat home since 2008, said Bill Harris, committee chair of Habitat Moose Jaw. It has been amazing for him to have attended every family introduction and subsequent key presentations.
“Each event has served to further validate the importance of providing Habitat partner families with a hand up, in order to enable them to experience the joys of safe, decent, and affordable homeownership,” he added.
Having a new home is important for the family, Legare said, as they ran into problems with black mould in a previous dwelling that caused all three to be constantly sick. They only became healthy once they left. This prompted Legare to find a better place for her daughters.
She says it’s bittersweet that they will soon have their own home.
Heather Eby, city councillor and deputy mayor, sympathized with Legare in being a single mom. Although Eby did not participate in the Habitat program, she was just as excited when she bought her first home 29 years ago in a life-changing move. She hoped the home provided safety and generated many happy memories for the Legares.
“(City council is) just so pleased to see families achieving their dreams,” added Eby, “and that’s what makes our city great … is when we can help families achieve their dreams and be successful.”
One benefit of the new home’s location is it is two blocks from Legare’s parents; she grew up in the neighbourhood. She is now thrilled that her daughters can play outside safely and visit their grandparents without fearing for their safety.
“It makes a big difference … knowing the area,” Legare said.
Legare is okay with swinging a hammer, but she will probably stay off the ladders at the job site since she is scared of heights. While she isn’t a handywoman just yet, she joked that she’ll likely become an expert once the home is built.
“It’s quite the perfect house for us,” she added.
