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Peachland  

2 Habitat for Humanity homes are for sale, but 8 are being built

Habitat homes up for sale

Two Habitat for Humanity homes located in Peachland went up for sale last week as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, however there is a light at the end of the tunnel for the group.

After Peachland residents raised questions about why two vacant Habitat for Humanity Okanagan homes were sold instead of given to Habitat families, the organization says no eligible families had applied for either location.

The non-profit also experienced a massive dip in revenue as a result of the pandemic.

"Like many organizations, we've come out of COVID-19 restrictions with some financial challenges," says Andrea Manifold, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Okanagan. 

Two Habitat for Humanity Okanagan ReStores were closed for six weeks and another two locations were closed for eight weeks. Funds generated through the ReStores are vital for the affordable housing programs.

Now that the ReStores have reopened, they are operating at about 68 hours per week less than what they normally would. Habitat for Humanity Okanagan has also been supporting some families who are currently asking for mortgage deferrals on their Habitat homes during the pandemic.

"To cap it all, we've been excluded from some of the government subsidies because we don't meet the criteria," adds Manifold. 

The Up Project initiative was introduced in 2018 to raise funds for safe and affordable housing. The initiative utilized various methods of up-cycling products diverted from landfills and products that have been refinished and repurposed. This did not meet the revenue forecast and after evaluation, it was determined that the Up Project would not be reopened, adding yet another factor in the decision to sell the two homes.

"We've reviewed what assets we were able to liquidate to minimize borrowing as we want to reduce any future liabilities that would incur as we aid our recovery," says Manifold. "It was a very tough decision, but by selling the homes, it will accelerate the build for which we do have qualified families for."

Currently Habitat for Humanity Okanagan has multiple families working towards the first eight homes in Lake Country. By selling the two homes in Peachland, they will become financially stronger to provide these eight homes to eligible families sooner.

Anyone can apply to become a homeowner through Habitat, but the applicant must be in need of housing, able to make mortgage payments and be willing to partner with Habitat to complete 500 volunteer hours. Those applying through Habitat for Humanity Okanagan must have at least one child living with the family and have lived in Canada permanently for three years, and two years consecutively in the Okanagan prior to initiating the application. 

It takes four-to-five months to qualify families once they've applied. It then takes usually two years to complete the 500 hours of volunteer work. So if Habitat had decided to keep the two homes in Peachland which had been vacant for six and nine months, these homes would be left empty for a very long period of time.

"Its unfortunate but the bigger picture is it's going to accelerate our program. We're selling two but we're going to build eight and eventually 12," says Manifold.

Habitat for Humanity Okanagan has built and sold 33 homes to date, including six in Peachland.

The two homes for sale in Peachland are located at #201 and #301 4912 Princeton Avenue.



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