Bridgewater’s most recent home owner had a large welcome today.
Government officials, neighbours and friends turned out to see Heather-Ann Slade and her three kids receive the key to their new Habitat For Humanity home.
Slade describes the moment Habitat for Humanity representatives told her she had been selected for a house.
“My knees buckled. I just started to cry. We were so happy. This, for any low-income family, it compares to winning the lottery.”
Slade says she is grateful for the amount of work everyone put in to the home.
And she’s glad she had to contribute her sweat equity as well.
“I wouldn’t want it to be a free house. I’m glad that I have the responsibility of a mortgage because to my children it sets the example of independence and that we deserve this and it’s not a free ride. It’s okay to pay a mortgage. It makes you feel validated as a person.”
Slade still needs to pack and complete a few final touches before moving in sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Habitat for Humanity gathers a large crowd to turn over keys to new homeowners. @HabitatCanada pic.twitter.com/0FL4ug7GbB
— CKBW Radio (@ckbwradio) April 27, 2018
Unfortunately, Slade’s will be the last house the organization will be building.
After putting 5 families into new homes over the last 13 years, the South Shore chapter of Habitat for Humanity is folding.
Chair Hank Middleton says he and the other members are getting older and it is time pass the torch.
“Well, I’ll be 67 this summer. I’ve been at it for 12 years. Robert was a founding member. It’s been 13 years for him. Seems to me it’s time to let someone else take over.”
Middleton says the infrastructure is in place for new volunteers to step up.
And a piece of land has already been donated.
“It would be nice if somebody from the South Shore would express some interest in forming a committee and taking over Habitat.”
He encourages anyone who is interested to contact him or the provincial office of Habitat for Humanity.
Key turned over to Heather Ann from @HabitatNS South Shore pic.twitter.com/DbvglbJHUv
— Ed Halverson (@edwardhalverson) April 27, 2018
