LENNOX ISLAND, P.E.I. — Kelly Sark’s heart is on Lennox Island with her extended family – and now her house is, too.
“My mom, my dad, my whole family. My aunts, my uncles, my cousins, everybody (is here).”
Sark and her two children, Jakoby, 8, and Shanaya, 7, moved into their new home on Jan. 24.
Built by Habitat for Humanity volunteers, the 1,100 square-foot, three-bedroom bungalow still has a “new-home smell” of fresh paint and new flooring.
“It’s setting my roots in the ground for my kids to have their own home where they can go off into the world, but know that they have a house here they can always come back to. It really means a lot,” said Sark.
For the last few years, Sark has been struggling to find a suitable place to live, often bunking with other family members and “just bouncing around”.
Their last apartment was noisy, and they heard the neighbours coming and going.
Last week, construction manager Jamie MacKay and program manager Tammy Denning from Habitat for Humanity paid Sark a visit to give the house a final inspection.
Then they all toured the cozy home, checking each light switch and window to make sure everything was in good working order.
As Sark swept the curtains aside to let in the mid-winter sunlight, she explained they were just tacked up while she waited for blinds to be installed.
In Jakoby’s bedroom, she marvelled there was no moisture on the windows, and told Denning she found the new home nice and quiet.
Now in their own house, Sark notices her kids are much more at ease.
“They’re so content. I never had my bed to myself for a long time when I was in my apartment. Either it was too crowded, or it was too loud. Now, they sleep all night without being woken up,” said Sark.
Jakoby and Shanaya’s best friends are right across the street.
“I can just watch them run across the road and watch them come back,” she said.
Charlie the dog and three hamsters make for a full house.
“Every time I wake up, I feel like I’m not even on Lennox.”
As well as being a volunteer firefighter and medical first responder with the Lennox Island Fire Department, Sark works just up the street at the Aboriginal Women’s Association.
“We do a lot of groundwork,” she said. “It’s a rewarding job. I guess I just like doing things that help people.”
Yet, she was overwhelmed with the opportunity from Habitat.
“It’s just mind-blowing. I spend a lot of my time helping a lot of people and then to actually get my house built and help from other people I don’t even know, it’s just very generous. I have no words to say how that feels. It’s just amazing, to get that support and help.”
Habitat for Humanity crews will be back to seed the lawn and finish the backyard shed as soon as the weather is suitable.
It’s the not-for-profit’s first build on Lennox Island, and MacKay said it went well.
“There was a lot of support from the band,” he said.
Sark’s is one of the five houses Habitat is wrapping up from the 2019 season. After the inspection, Sark and Denning chatted about deeds, mortgages and home insurance.
Habitat for Humanity provides eligible families with safe affordable housing with an interest-free mortgage. Habitat mortgages are designed to be 25 per cent of the gross household income and never increase in percentage. If the family’s income goes up, the mortgage will be recalculated but will never exceed 25 per cent.
Families partner with Habitat for 15 years, the length of the mortgage, as Habitat provides on-going support.
Denning is ready to help anyone looking to apply for a home. She is currently collecting applications for homes to be built in 2021.
As for Sark, she’s looking forward to enjoying her new life.
“Just basically live life in my house. Grow old in my house.”
Coming home
The most common housing issues Denning sees at Habitat for Humanity P.E.I.:
- Housing costs more than 40 per cent of income.
- Health concerns like mold, leaking or poor air quality that are confirmed to be causing health issues.
- Safety concerns like heating, electrical, structural issues that are unsafe.
- Not enough room for the family - for example five people in a two-bedroom.
The ReStore in Charlottetown is a Habitat for Humanity-owned resale store that sells quality furniture, appliances, and lighting at reasonable prices. All of the proceeds go back into building homes.
"ReStore Mission: To raise funds to help Habitat for Humanity PEI build affordable homes on Prince Edward Island. We aim to keep usable materials out of the waste stream and make them available for home building and renovation projects." Source: Restore Facebook page
