Two families recently celebrated their home purchases with Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North (VIN) during traditional 鈥楰ey Ceremonies鈥� held in Courtenay and Campbell River last month.
The homes became available through Habitat鈥檚 Buy Back Program, which allows Habitat to repurchase homes from previous partner families and provide them to new ones. With this initiative, Habitat VIN has now constructed 51 homes and served a total of 58 families in the North Island region.
At the Campbell River Key Ceremony held on April 30 at the Hilchey site for Habitat鈥檚 upcoming build, new homeowner Jocelyn Whyte shared part of her five-year journey to homeownership with Habitat.
鈥淚t hasn鈥檛 been an easy journey,鈥� she said. 鈥淟ike many of you, I lived through the challenges of COVID and the pressures of inflation. There were delays and sacrifices, and there were days when I thought this day would never come. I worked full time, volunteered at Habitat, and tried to be the best mom I could be. I was exhausted, but I never gave up.鈥�
Whyte and her two daughters were surrounded by friends, family, Habitat VIN staff, volunteers, Board members, and invited dignitaries as she celebrated this new chapter. Campbell River Mayor Kermit Dahl also spoke during the ceremony.
鈥淎s a mayor and fellow Campbell Riverite, it makes me proud to see community members pulling together to build community for each other,鈥� Dahl said.
The ceremonies serve to honour the collective effort that Habitat for Humanity represents in the region. To date, Habitat VIN has built 34 affordable homes in the Comox Valley and 17 in Campbell River, helping families build strength, stability, and self-reliance.
Dahl noted the city鈥檚 support of Habitat in his remarks, 鈥淭he city is pleased to support Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North and to work to make homeownership affordable. Habitat for Humanity staff, volunteers, Habitat homeowners, partners, and families are making a real difference in the community. One home at a time.鈥�
For Jessica Englehart and her eight year old son Kieren, living in an expensive, cramped, and increasingly unreliable four-storey apartment building in the Comox Valley had taken a toll.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always been expensive, and it鈥檚 getting more expensive every year,鈥� she shared.
But the real cost wasn鈥檛 just financial, it was emotional. This apartment was the longest her son had lived anywhere. In just seven years, he had moved four times.
Their Key Ceremony, held at 1375 Piercy Avenue in Courtenay on April 22, included a presentation from Queneesh Elementary School students. They shared one of their 'Meaning of Home' entries 鈥� part of a national contest that raises both awareness and funds for Habitat's mission.
鈥淭he key we are celebrating today is more than a tool; it鈥檚 a symbol of hard work, of hope, and of a future filled with possibilities. It represents a fresh start, a foundation of memories yet to be made,鈥� said Courtenay mayor Bob Wells.
He was joined by MLA Brennan Day, along with Habitat CEO Jeff West and a crowd of Habitat neighbours, partners, and friends.
台湾MM裸聊室 Community Credit Union, a long-time supporter of Habitat VIN, was also present. Erika Nessman, Area Manager, presented the family with symbolic items, including a toolbox donated by Midland Tools, ensuring they have the knowledge and tools to be successful homeowners.
Affordable homeownership means putting an end to survival mode and starting to truly live. Habitat for Humanity鈥檚 Affordable Homeownership Program is an effective response to Canada鈥檚 housing crisis. It is helping to build a healthier, more equal, more inclusive, and more prosperous Canada for generations to come.
As Englehart put it, 鈥淲e鈥檝e just been putting one foot in front of the other for so long. Our new home will provide us the stability to start living鈥攏ot just surviving.鈥�
To learn more about Habitat VIN and how you can get involved in the upcoming build in Campbell River, visit habitatnorthisland.com.
