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Habitat for Humanity turns over keys to 26th home in Prince Albert

Sep 27, 2017 | 2:00 PM

They’ve been in Prince Albert for two years but now, a family from Myanmar can officially call Prince Albert home.

Lu Paw, her husband and two children received the keys to their home – a four bedroom bungalow on 19th St. E. during a special dedication ceremony on Wednesday.

“We are so excited and very happy,” she said.

Paw was 23 years old before she and her husband were able to leave a refugee camp in Myanmar. Her husband told paNOW they moved to Canada because of “problems” in their country.

“We commend the work of Habitat for Humanity throughout the province to help families establish roots in communities through the ownership of a safe, quality home to create memories in,” Prince Albert Carlton MLA Joe Hargrave said, on behalf of Social Services Minister and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation Joe Merriman.

The province contributed $65,000 to the home through the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation plus $18,000 from the Summit Action Fund. It was built through a partnership between Habitat and Saskatchewan Polytechnic Institute in Prince Albert. John Van Leeuwan from Habitat for Humanity said they provide the materials and students provide construction labour.

A second home, located on 16th St. W., was also dedicated to a family in need Wednesday. Similar to the Polytech build, Habitat supplied the building materials and students from Carlton Comprehensive High School helped construct it. Each partner family selected by Habitat contributes 500 hours in building their home or other Habitat homes in the community.

Since 1996, Habitat for Humanity dedicated 30 homes to families in Prince Albert, four of which are currently under construction.

 

Teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @teenamonteleone