FERGUS – A Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington project in Fergus is being hailed as a way to help local families into homeownership and serve as an example for what could be done to tackle the housing crisis.
Politicians, Habitat for Humanity, housing officials and community members came together Friday to officially break ground on the 32-unit Garafraxa Village project at 465 Garafraxa St. W.
Habitat homes are geared towards lower income families and individuals who can not afford a conventional mortgage.
The development features 22 units for Habitat families and has raised over $4 million dollars in just over a year in community bonds, said Ryan Deska, director of community engagement and development for Habitat for Humanity GW, at the event.
“It’s been a long time coming for a lot of staff, even going back further than when I’ve been here with habitat,” Deska said. “I think it comes at an important and exciting time in housing when there’s a lot of energy behind in housing when there’s a lot of energy behind finding really good solutions.”
Attendees heard how Habitat housing has a tangible impact on families through the story of Austin Cardinell.
Cardinell, a Fergus resident, was just six years old in 2002 when his family of five was able to move out of a modest two-bedroom rental after being accepted as Fergus’ first Habitat family.
That fall, Cardinell recalled moving into the home on Milligan Street while this area of Fergus was first being developed.
“The opportunity to have safe, sustainable and affordable housing was a blessing to our family,” Cardinell said. “My parents no longer had to search for affordable rents and move to accommodate our finances. We felt at home.”
He stressed his family was not offered a handout but a hand-up and looked forward to seeing other families in Fergus get a hand-up like his did.
While the upcoming project was being celebrated, associate housing minister MPP Rob Flack of Elgin-Middlesex-London said the province needs more projects like this because he’s regularly hearing from young people who are giving up on hope of ever owning a home.
“So 32 is great, we just need to multiply the 32 by 1,000 or 10,000 because everybody deserves a roof over their head,” Flack said.
Deska said this project is the beginning for Habitat for Humanity GW and they are in the planning phase for a 70-unit build on Speedvale Avenue in Guelph and another at Orchard Park which could be around 100-units and could include a daycare, co-housing and access to Jesuit Farm.
