The Cooper and Kassa families, joined by London MPs Peter Fragiskatos, Kate Young, and Irene Mathyssen, break ground on Habitat for Humanity homes on Forbes St., July 10, 2017. (Photo by Miranda Chant, Blackburn News)The Cooper and Kassa families, joined by London MPs Peter Fragiskatos, Kate Young, and Irene Mathyssen, break ground on Habitat for Humanity homes on Forbes St., July 10, 2017. (Photo by Miranda Chant, Blackburn News)
London

Two Families Break Ground On Habitat Homes

Pouring rain didn't dampen the excitement for two London families breaking ground Monday at the Habitat for Humanity sites where their new homes will soon be built.

The two houses are being constructed side by side on Forbes St. for the Cooper and Kassa families. The homes are among a total of 17 new affordable houses being built by Habitat for Humanity Heartland Ontario on the former site of the Manor Park public school.

"Breaking ground on my new home is so overwhelming, exciting, a blessing. It's everything words cannot describe because looking back on where we came from to where we find ourselves right now, having a home constructed for us with Habitat, it is a blessing," said George Cooper.

Cooper and his wife Viola were forced to live in a refugee camp in Ghana with 76,000 other refugees after fleeing wartorn Liberia in West Africa. The couple immigrated to Canada in 2005 and now have five children ranging in age from 11-years-old to 2-years-old.

"I am most looking forward to my kids having a place to play. A playground in the backyard, just a safe place for them," said Cooper. "Right now we are in an 800 sq ft apartment with seven family members, so I am looking forward to my kids having space and a place to call home."

For Awatash Kassa, having a fully equipped and accessible home for her 36-year-old daughter Lemlem, who lives with Cerebral Palsy, is a priority.

"My daughter has special needs so it is important for me to be able to get a home that accommodates those needs," said Kassa. "Right now we are in a townhouse but it is too small for her with her wheelchair. Everything is tight."

Kassa's 20-year-old son Mennor balances his studies at Western University with taking care of Lemlem when his mother is at her full-time job. But even with those other commitments he is happy to swing a hammer to help construct the house he will soon call home.

"Mennor's so excited. He can't wait to get to work," said Kassa.

It is hoped construction of the new homes will be complete by the end of November so the families can move in and get settled in time for Christmas.

But Habitat Heartland CEO Brian Elliott stressed these homes aren't a gift.

"These families have to dedicate 500 hours of sweat equity towards either building their own home or other homes or working in our ReStore. Then at the end they receive a mortgage based on the fair market value of this house and they make payments back on that every month," said Elliott. "The nice part is those payments go right back into our mortgage fund for humanity which helps us to build more homes."

In addition to the two London homes, Habitat Heartland also broke ground on two homes in St. Thomas Monday afternoon. The four builds are part of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, which will see 150 affordable homes built across the county in honour of Canada 150.

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