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Kayla Ripley is feeling lucky these days.
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The single mom with three growing kids lives in a two-bedroom apartment. But, in the spring, she will move into a Habitat for Humanity house being built at 28 Willowdale St. in Brant County.
She said she remembers the telephone call asking her to go to the Habitat office.
“When I got there I was presented with a letter saying that I would become a homeowner,” she said. “It felt like I had won the lottery.”
Ripley and her three children- Mya 10, Treyton, 5 and Kingston, 2 – are looking forward to the move.
“Right now, all of the kids share one room and they all have different bedtimes which really makes it hard on everyone,” she said.
“The rent is fine but we need more space and trying to find something else, in this market, is impossible.”
Ripley said her rent is lower than the going rate because she has lived in the apartment for the past eight years. Apartments like hers now rent for $ 1,300 a month- more than 1 1/2 times what she’s paying, she said.
“I think everyone knows how difficult it is to get the affordable housing people here need right now,” Ripley said. “It’s really hard.”
She said she feels fortunate to be able to work with Habitat for Humanity.
“I’ll be able to get the home I need for me and my kids.”
Ripley said Christmas 2022 will be extra special for her family.
“Right now, we really can’t have people over on Christmas Day because there isn’t enough space,” she said. “So, we spend our day traveling to other people’s places.
“Next year, the kids will be able to get up in the morning, open their gifts and go out to the backyard to play. I’m really looking forward to having people over at our place on Christmas Day. ”
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Ripley, who works full-time, has already completed the required 500 hours of volunteer service by working in Habitat’s Re-Store. She is also helping to build her new home.
“It’s really kind of neat to know that I’m helping to build my own home.”
Ripley is also completing a Habitat home-ownership program to ensure a successful transition to a house from an apartment.
“I’ve learned a lot from this experience and I’m looking forward to learning more,” she said. “I guess the biggest thing I’ve learned is perseverance – to keep working at something until you get it right.”
The Ripleys’ home is one of two local Habitat projects underway.
On Dec. 16, ground was broken on a 56-unit housing development in Brantford at 200 Brantwood Park Rd. At Dunsdon Street. The development, being built in three phases, will provide homes to 32 Habitat-sponsored families.
To apply and learn more about the program, visit www.habitat4home.ca/own-a-home/program-information/.
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