The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor A world-renowned program that provides affordable homes to the working poor hopes to expand into Flin Flon. Habitat for Humanity will host an informational meeting at City Hall later this week with the goal of setting up a local chapter. 'We haven't encountered a community yet where there's no need for our program,' said Steve Krahn, vice-president of regional development for the program's Manitoba branch. Krahn said Habitat 'fits into a fairly tight niche market.' 'Basically what we're looking for is families who aren't on social assistance or welfare but aren't making so much that they can afford a home on their own,' he said. 'So it's a fairly small window of people that we're looking for, but we've found in every community that we go into that there is certainly a need.' Habitat builds new homes for low-income families provided they have steady, low-paying employment and meet certain other criteria. Market value The home is then sold to the family at fair market value with no money down and no interest. The length of the mortgage is adjusted according to the family's income. Families make mortgage payments not to a bank, but to the local Habitat branch, which is required to fundraise enough money to initially build the home. 'It's a program that, as you build more homes, you're able to build more homes in turn,' noted Krahn. Krahn said a mix of hired help and volunteers build the homes, often with skilled labourers donating some of their expertise and supplies to keep costs down. While Flin Flon does have a high average income, it also has its share of people who have trouble making ends meet. Government data shows that in 2006, the Manitoba portion of Flin Flon _ which is almost the entire community _ had 11.1 per cent of its families fall into the low-income bracket. That was only slightly lower than the Manitoba-wide figure for the same year, 12.3 per cent. Welfare rates in Flin Flon have also increased in recent years, but those individuals do not qualify for the program because they cannot own a home while on assistance. Habitat is in expansion mode in Manitoba, hoping to open 20 to 25 new chapters across the province by 2017. 'So Flin Flon is certainly on the map for us,' said Krahn. Krahn said a Habitat chapter can run with a group with as few as four to 10 people, but they would need some additional people supporting them. The information meeting will be held this Thursday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers. All are welcome to attend. Those unable to attend may contact Steve Krahn at 1-855-235-2187 for more information.
