Habitat for Humanity’s first handicapped-accessible home in Red Deer is ready for its family.
Teresa Schroeder and her son Brandon, 13, who has cerebral palsy, and daughter Chantel, 14, are moving into a specially designed Habitat bungalow duplex in Eastview.
For the past eight years, they’ve rented a standard bi-level duplex.
“We had so many challenges with Brandon and his equipment. This will give him total independence,” said Teresa about Brandon’s wheelchair, crutches and walker.
“He’ll be able to do things on his own.”
Including laundry, she said with a smile.
The new home has features like lower counters, wider doorways and hallways, pocket doors for Brandon’s bedroom and the bathroom, a large shower and an open space beneath the bathroom sink and kitchen island to accommodate a wheelchair.
“It has been the first space that has worked this well and it will work well in the future,” Brandon said.
Construction started on the home at 3912 44th St. a year ago.
Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to building homes for low-income families, with no down payment and interest-free mortgages.
The mortgage payments are recalculated every year so it’s never more than 25 per cent of the family’s gross income.
Instead of the down payment, families volunteer 500 hours of “sweat equity” through activities like helping out during construction or working in Habitat’s ReStore. They can also earn equity by volunteering with other community groups.
Habitat for Humanity Red Deer has built 19 homes and has immediate plans to build five more.
Teresa said having a Habitat house will allow her to save money for her children’s post-secondary education and working with Habitat volunteers was amazing.
“I wouldn’t give up a day of it. The people I’ve met — unbelievable. It’s an experience of a lifetime.”
The other half of the Eastview duplex, which is a normal bi-level, is also ready for its owners, a family from El Salvador — Jose Herrera and his wife Anna Maria Fernandez and their children Carlos, 13, Gaby, nine, Adriana, eight months, and grandmother Margerita.
Both families are in the process of moving into their new homes.
Learn more about Habitat For Humanity in Red Deer online at www.habitatreddeer.ca or by calling 403-309-0998.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com