Executive members from the Prince Edward Hastings Affiliate of Habitat for Humanity met with the newly formed Flinton Build committee and the public at the Flinton Rec. Hall on Jan. 16.

Ruth Peck, who leads the local committee, introduced Doug and Paul Chisholm, whose donation of a lot near Flinton and thousands of dollars worth of materials provided the impetus for Habitat for Humanity to come to Flinton.

Paul Chisholm said that the Chisholm family has been in the lumbering business for 150 years. “We wanted to do something substantial to celebrate, something charitable, and this made sense,” he said.

Karel Vanek, President of the Prince Edward Hastings Affiliate and Bonnie Dobson of the selection committee both spoke about the partnership that Habitat for Humanity builds with communities and with people who end up buying homes from them.

Karel Vanek talked about the building process in general and Bonnie Dobson went over the criteria for family selection. They made it clear that Habnitat does not give people homes; the families that receive homes must contribute 500 hours in “sweat equity” in order to receive a home which they must pay for. The advantage for families is they end up living in an adequate new home with mortgage payments that are lower than the rent they were paying on an inadequate home. A meeting for potential families will be held on Monday night (January 22) at the Northbrook Lions Hall at 7:00 pm.

Families living within 30 miles of Flinton, whose housing is substandard, who have a steady income that is not high enough for them to receive a traditional mortgage, and who are willing to make a commitment to partnering with Habitat for Humanity, might be eligible. For further information call Ruth Peck (613) 336-8915 or Jack Kelly (613) 336-6806.

Many community volunteers will be needed when the build starts in late May.  Interested parties can contact the above numbers or look to the News for further information in the spring.