Eight Lloydminster residents could soon be homeowners thanks to the Community Housing Initiative Program.
The program is designed to help people who volunteer in the community and can’t afford to make a down payment on a home.
General Manager of Cultural and Social Services Patrick Lancaster says volunteering in the community is one of the main criteria.
“We’re looking for individuals who will help to make good neighbours,” Lancaster said. “These could be individuals that are active in the community through volunteerism… or even just active in their neighbourhoods, inclined to go out and shovel the neighbours sidewalk, or help someone with groceries. We’re looking for folks that are active, and conscious of what it is to be a good neighbour, so that when all these units are filled, we have 8 folks living next to each other who are going to make great neighbours.”
The program requires people to provide proof of mortgage approval, put forward $3,000 of their own money, and go through a home ownership training course. Lancaster says there are a few reasons the city wants owners to do the training.
“The home ownership training covers a variety of topics. We’re brining in a speaker to speak to financial planning and budgeting, we also have someone to talk a little bit about condos and bylaws and the ownership components, and we’ve worked with different groups to do a little bit of life skill development, and just sort of general tips on how to be good neighbours.
“The real value, we found, from the home ownership training is by bringing everyone together, it gives the successful applicants an opportunity to get to know each other before they move in, and start building those relationships.”
Applications are open until Wednesday, November 4, at lloydminster.ca/CHIP. Recipients will be notified in December.