October 7 is World Habitat Day. To celebrate this annual event, Habitat for Humanity West Kootenay will be beginning the process of partnering with a family in the Nelson community. One of our existing homes in Nelson has recently become vacant and we will begin the application process for a working family in need to become a homeowner.
Habitat for Humanity strives to give families in need a hand up rather than a hand out in order to enable them to become successful members of the community. We allow families unable to come up with a down payment or obtain a conventional mortgage for a home to do 500 hours of community service in lieu of the payment. After successfully completing these volunteer hours they then purchase the home from Habitat at a zero per cent mortgage.
Currently Habitat for Humanity West Kootenay has one duplex and two single dwelling homes in Nelson, as well as a single dwelling home in Castlegar. Recently we partnered with Cranbrook for a Friends of Habitat program, where they are preparing to break ground.
After World Habitat Day applications can be found at habitatwk.ca as well as at Share Nelson. We will also have Habitat representatives at the Chahko Mika Mall in Nelson handing out application forms and on hand to answer any questions you may have on October 7.