Habitat For Humanity provides more than just a roof to live under
Patti Armstrong and her daughter Roberta are a family living in a Habitat for Humanity house in Medicine Hat.
S By STACEY LEE
ometimes it seems as though homeowners take what they have for granted but that isn’t the case with those who actually sweat for their homes.
Patti Armstrong says her life changed — for the better — the day
she and her two children moved into their new home. It was back in October of 2004 that Habitat for Humanity completed construction of the no frills triplex she has transformed into a warm, welcoming home. She was 40 years old, her daughter Roberta was six and her son Arthur was a very tall 13.
“I gave up everything for a long time to build this house and these days I still feel proud of that,” Armstrong says.
Armstrong was a single mother who struggled to make ends meet. She loved her children, and ensured they were provided for, but finding affordable housing had never been easy. They had been renting a small two-bedroom house
Tel: 403-545-2344 76 | 2013 REPORT ON SOUTHEAST ALBERTA
and Patti’s room was in the drafty front porch. She admits she would likely still be sleeping in that porch if Habitat for Humanity hadn’t accepted the family into the program.
It was in late 1989 when volunteers broke ground on the Habitat’s first home when Patti mustered up the courage to walk over and inquire about the program. Shortly thereafter she approached the principal of Elm Street School to get help with her application.
“I can’t remember his name but he didn’t even hesitate to say yes,” she says. “The next thing you know I was meeting with the Habitat selection committee.”
Up until the moment she crossed the threshold of her brand new home, Armstrong’s happiest moment had been delivered with news her family had been accepted into the program — she would eventually get the opportunity to own her own home. Her next most memorable moment came along in August 2003.
“My next proudest moment was on the day I finally completed my sweat equity hours,” Armstrong says. “Former Governor General and Manitoba Premier Ed Schreyer was here with his wife Lillian that day. She helped me with the final coat of paint in Roberta’s room.”
502 - 1st Street WEST Bow Island, AB T0K 0G0
Fax: 403-545-6257 Email:
bowisland@appledrugs.net •
www.appledrugs.net Monday-Saturday 9-6pm
Closed Sundays & Holidays
By the time her new home was ready winter had set in and the calendar year had advanced. The family moved into their new home in mid-October when temperatures had plummeted to -38C.
41137671•03/26/13
41137702•03/26/13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116