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11 · Wednesday, July 28, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Creating affordable housing for families By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Habitat for Humanity Halton celebrated a significant construction milestone Friday with its two Elmwood Road building projects beginning to take shape. The charity organization installed flooring and some of the exterior wall framing onto the foundations of the two future homes, which when complete, will allow two Oakville families to break the cycle of poverty in which they are currently trapped. As construction crews hoisted one home's new floor into position Susan Goetz, who sits on the Habitat for Humanity Halton board of directors, began an informal presentation about the progress Habitat for Humanity Halton has made and is making in combating poverty in the region. "We have been in Halton Region for 11 years and we have broken the cycle of poverty for 11 families already in the region," said Goetz. "Today you're witnessing another development of two simple, decent, affordable homes that will soon be occupied by two Oakville families." Goetz went on to say these latest homes are unique in that they are being built environmentally friendly with the goal being to attain a Built Green Canada gold certification on eight categories, including "This allows people who are hard working, who maybe didn't get the right start in life, to let their children get that right start in life. This will really provide a foundation." n Tianna, a single mother who will be moving into one of two Habitat for Humanity homes in Oakville operational systems, building materials, exterior and interior finishes, indoor air quality, ventilation, waste management, water conservation and business practices. "The floor and the wall sections we are using are made from certified dimensional and engineered lumber products. The materials and processes used in making the sections meet the requirements of the Built Green Canada gold certification," said Goetz. "That reduces the environmental impact of home construction, the homes will be more energy efficient as a result of this change to our building practices and it will reduce the long-term operational cost for our homeowners. The pre-assembly of these panels will also reduce onsite waste as we prepare to build with our dedicated group of volunteers and supporters." Construction on the two single-detached homes is expected to be complete by mid-to-late fall. Tianna, a working single mother who will soon be living in one of these homes talked about the importance of what Habitat for Humanity Halton is doing by giving her and her child an affordable place to live. "I think this allows people who are hard working, who maybe didn't get the right start in life, to let their children get that right start in life," she said. "This will really provide a foundation, stability, that sort of thing." Representatives from Habitat for Humanity Halton have previously pointed out that the two families are not getting the homes for free as they will ERIC RIEHL / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER have to pay the full market value of the homes over HOMEBULIDING: The floors and exterior walls of the two new Habitat for Humanity homes time. that are being built in Oakville were installed today. Here, future homeowners Tianna, and Sierra, "It's made possible pose beside their new home, with (from left) Susan Goetz (Board of Directors, Habitat), Linda because of the way we Belanger (Genworth Financial), and Anne Maslowski (Director of Development for Habitat). finance the mortgages and the way they purchase those homes," said Anne Swarbrick, the executive director for Habitat for Humanity Halton, in a previous interview. "As they pay back those mortgages over time, that money goes back into a revolving fund with which we will acquire more land and build more homes for people." The Halton charity estimates that 1,200 Halton residents become homeless each year due to a lack of affordable housing. HWY. #6 N W S E WATERDOWN Visit Our SHOWROOM · Quality Craftsmanship · Innovative Designs · Professional Service & Installation · 10 Year Warranty SOU TH D HWY. #5 HALLMARK KITCHENS 23 INNOVATION DRIVE (Clappisons Corners) WATERDOWN 905-689-7877 www.hallmarkkitchens.ca R.