Habitat build completes more than house

For Calli Whyte and Chris Lawrence, the upcoming completion of their new house means much more than having a structure to call home.

As the residents of Prince George's sixth Habitat for Humanity building project, the couple and Whyte's two daughters, Lily and Karma, will have the stability they've been searching for.

"This means everything," Whyte said. "When I grew up, I went to one elementary school, I lived in the same house." But this has not been the experience of Lawrence, or her daughters, she explained. Lawrence attended six schools as a child and eldest daughter Lily is only in Grade 4 but has attended three different schools.

"They're not going to have to switch and will have a structured foundation for later in life," Whyte said.

Friends, family and volunteers gathered at the Kenwood Street build site Saturday morning for the official dedication of the new three-bedroom, two-bathroom home.

Jo Anne Pickering, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Prince George, became emotional during the dedication ceremony as she spoke about the family and their selection.

"When I came across this [application], I knew this family needs a home," Pickering said. "They were just so in need. They had moved several times to find affordable housing."

While every family approved for a home has to put 500 hours of sweat equity - volunteer labour at the Habitat for Humanity-run Restore and on their own build - Pickering said this family went above and beyond. "I'm sure they have close to 1,000," she said, adding she was moved by how grateful the family was and how hard they worked.

The family hopes to move in to the house by Oct. 15, said Lawrence, and the amount of work that has gone into the project since February is gratifying.

"It's definitely something to be proud of," he said. "To be able to start the new year in a new home is definitely something we're looking forward to."

Hundreds of volunteers have helped to put the house together since the groundbreaking in May. This included carpentry students from College of New Caledonia and equipment from Klein and Sons, who had the honour of handing over the keys to the new homeowners.

Habitat for Humanity has already begun preparing the site of their seventh build on Juniper Street.

"We've been very, very blessed with the families we've had," Pickering said. "It makes you want to continue when you see families like this."