Project short on money.
62 Emily Street where Parry Sound Adopt-A-Home plans to build a duplex.
Cody Storm Cooper/North Star
PARRY SOUND - Dollars and cents may postpone the Parry Sound Adopt-A-Home Project.
But, with the original summer 2012 deadline approaching and less than $24,000 of the needed $150,000 in the bank, the local Habitat for Humanity Muskoka-affiliated group has two fundraisers on the calendar.
It’s also waiting for more people to return applications.
In the fall, Parry Sound donated a vacant lot at 62 Emily Street for the group to build a duplex .
Successful applicants buy the homes at market value, put in 500 volunteer hours with the organization, and pay both property taxes and the interest-free mortgages.
The members of the Parry Sound Adopt-A-Home project have put together a raffle. Tickets are for sale now through members and at a couple local businesses. Prizes include a $2,000 cruise, a $1,700 barbecue and tickets to an Ottawa Senators games.
The group hopes to raise $8,000 through the raffle. It’s also aiming for $17,000 to $18,000 through a Snowmobile Run for the Roof this February 17.
Participants must raise at least $400 in pledges to take part in a day of snowmobiling that includes breakfast, dinner and prizes.
Prizes include golf, NHL gold tickets and a night’s stay at a local resort.
If these to fundraisers pan out as hoped, the ledger still won’t show the over $100,000 needed to start building the home.
The $150,000 to start construction, “is a requirement of Habitat for Humanity even though we will have things donated to us, $150,000 is a strict benchmark,” said Hans de Vries, chair of the steering committee.
“So for a build that should happen next summer, we probably aren’t going to be able make it,” he said. “ It’s just not going to be able to (raise) enough money - which is not a problem at all, we’re just going to have to postpone it another, say nine months, so we should start in the spring of 2013.”
The late start isn’t set in stone if the full amount needed comes together from grants or private sponsors.
De Vries isn’t disheartened by the delay, but said he sees a bright future for the fledgling group as it learns the ropes of applying for grants.
“The project in Huntsville, for instance, they just got a grant for $85,000, out of nowhere,” he said. “We’re a beginning group, so we are faced with all these grants we can apply for, but it’s a ton of work, and again, it’s all volunteer work and nobody really has experience in it.”
In December, the Parry Sound Adopt-A-Home project held information sessions for those interested in helping build and buy the two homes.
“There are 11 applications that have been sent out, so people have required an application form,” he said. “So far we had only one application back, which doesn’t sound like a lot; however, the application is quite a lengthily process and people have to get a credit check…and so that takes a lot of time.
“So, we’re trying to coach people through this whole process as much as we can: and, if we end up with even four or five (applicants), that’s quite a bit already to make a decision of.”
The project has support of Tamarack North Limited, which has committed to contributing $5,000 annually, and local lawyer Lisa Lund, who is working pro bono to transfer the property to the group.