House rich: Habitat residents celebrate move-in day

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This article was published 28/03/2025 (218 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sergute Chala thought her future was set.

She got married in 2019 and eagerly awaited her husband’s arrival from Ethiopia so they could start their lives together in Winnipeg with their young daughter, Kiya Tadsse.

That day never came. Her husband never joined them, leaving Chala and her daughter to live on their own. They lived in a subsidized rental on Princess Street, near Siloam Mission, and struggling to find stability.

“You don’t know what to do. You don’t know where to start,” Chala recalled. “I was very depressed.”

Determined to create a better future, Chala applied to Habitat for Humanity in January 2024, seeking for a fresh start in a safer community. Just months after her application was submitted, her dream became reality.

As a health-care aide at St. Boniface Hospital, she worked hard, but safety remained a concern. Her car had been broken in to multiple times, and her five-year-old daughter was growing up surrounded by the challenges of a rough neighbourhood.

On Friday, Chala and Kiya received the keys to their new townhouse-style condo at 900 Pandora Ave. West in Transcona, a milestone that marked an emotional new chapter in their lives. Their new home, part of a three-acre development, symbolizes stability and hope.

“I just don’t have the words to express,” Chala said. “Life-changing, but it’s not only that. It’s something you don’t expect. Habitat has helped me with a safe place to live in.”

The Transcona development is Habitat for Humanity Manitoba’s largest and most ambitious build to date. Once completed in 2026, the development will consist of 55 residential units that will house 275 people, including 175 children.

Habitat Manitoba CEO Jamie Hall emphasized the long-term impact of homeownership, not just for current families but for generations to come.

“These kids are not going to need a Habitat home because they will have the financial stability that home ownership brings,” Hall said.

Each home, which costs at least $260,000 to construct (excluding land), is purchased through Habitat with a fixed 15-year, interest-free mortgage — no down payment required.

Mortgage payments are calculated annually so families pay 27 per cent of household income on shelter costs. Additional fees, such as property taxes and condo fees, in the case of the Pandora Avenue build, are included in a family’s mortgage payment.

Families who partner with Habitat contribute 500 hours of “sweat equity” by volunteering on their home, other Habitat projects, or at ReStore locations.

“What we want is that at the end of your 15-year mortgage with us, you have enough equity to qualify for a mortgage and the agency you didn’t have when you started with us,” Hall said.

Prospective homeowners undergo a thorough selection process, which includes meeting a minimum annual income of $35,000 and completing the required volunteer hours before approval. Habitat prioritizes low-income families with at least one child, providing them with opportunities for financial and personal growth.

Carmen Fredborg, Habitat’s family selection manager, has witnessed first-hand how home ownership transforms lives.

“Some are able to work less but maybe make more (money), or they’re able to go back to school and further their education,” she said. “It’s just amazing to see.”

Hall credited the project’s success to the dedication of countless volunteers and generous donors.

The Pandora Avenue development received significant contributions, including donations exceeding $100,000 from the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba and the Manitoba Realtors Shelter Foundation.

“We build so many more homes because of the generosity of the hearts of Manitobans in so many ways,” Hall said.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca