Affordable homes is a dream come true for two Albertan families

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Owning a home is so much than acquiring an appreciating asset – it’s a source of pride and new tie to the community. You could see the emotion on the faces of all four families that benefited from new Habitat for Humanity homes in Strathcona County. On a sunny July 27th, four families were handed keys that started new chapters in their lives. Two of the four homes were supported by the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, the REALTORS® Community Foundation and the Government of Alberta. The County of Strathcona also played a key role with significant contributions to all the homes.

Jay Freeman, Chair of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF), said of all the worthwhile projects that the Foundation supports, Habitat for Humanity is one of his favourites. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony he said, “With these projects we can see, in a very concrete way, how our small contribution is benefiting.” The families moving into the new homes couldn’t agree more. Both parents and children spoke about how owning a home will make a difference to them and their families. One of the new owners named Clodia said, “Owing a house means stability and security, but also it means I can be a good role model for my daughter.”

 

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Habitat for Humanity believes in giving people a hand up, not a hand out. Habitat Homes are built by volunteers and donors and sold to qualified families. Those who are approved to receive a home must agree to work 500 hours at the build site in place of a down payment. Habitat holds the mortgage interest-free and amortizes it over as many years as necessary to ensure the families do not pay over 25 percent of their income for housing.

Affordable housing is one of the Foundation’s areas of interest for projects. It often partners with Real Estate Boards across the province, such as the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton, to match their donation and double the impact in communities across Alberta. Habitat for Humanity is a deserving partner as it serves families that are low to moderate income and offers them an innovative financing option. The Alberta Real Estate Foundation is proud of its contribution to this great event and join with others in welcoming these four families home.

Back by popular demand: Green Acreages Guide

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If you or a client escaped the city to a small acreage, would you know how to protect and maintain it? Would you know where your water comes from or where your septic tank resides? What are your responsibilities when it comes to weed control and how could municipal bylaws affect you? These are just some of the topics explored in The Green Acreages Guide Primer, Stewardship for Small Acreages. This Primer was written and released by Land Stewardship Centre, accompanied by a more detailed and self- directed Green Acreages Guide workbook for landowners.
Land Stewardship Centre (LSC) is an Edmonton-based organization, working throughout Alberta and western Canada, that helps people improve their understanding of healthy ecosystems. They encourage the development of practices and policies that support sustainable resource use. LSC has watched the ownership of small acreages, hobby farms and recreational properties grow over the years. In 2002, LSC developed its first booklet for this audience entitled “Tips and References for Owners of Acreages and Small Farms.” A subsequent production was released in 2005. Demand for this publication was strong and in 2010, LSC was approached about reprinting the original. The demand for information on how best to manage rural properties in a sustainable manner was still strong. This provided the ideal opportunity for Land Stewardship Centre to update their information and try something a bit different.
Land Stewardship Centre has published two connected documents: a Primer and a Workbook. When property owners understand the basics outlined in the Primer, they may be ready to discover new ways to steward their acreage or recreational property. At this point they are ready for the Workbook. This comprehensive guide features charts and templates they can use to plan and store information about their property.
The Alberta Real Estate Foundation was the key sponsor of the Primer and in helping distribute both documents through real estate professionals. Cheryl De Paoli, Executive Director at the Foundation said, “We welcomed news of this initiative as it provides a single source for this type of information. We believe it will become a valued resource for new and existing landowners who wish to be more sustainable.”
The Green Acreages Guide Workbook is available for purchase from Land Stewardship Centre for $29.95 plus GST. For a REALTOR, it may be the perfect gift to give a new rural customer. For more information on the Land Stewardship Centre, or to purchase the Workbook, visit their website at www.landstewardship.org

ANNOUNCING SUMMER 2012 COMMUNITY INVESTMENT RECIPIENTS

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The Board of Governors of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation recently approved $203,000 in community investment projects at their recent meeting on June 22nd, 2012.

 Notable projects approved for funding include:

– $50,000 to the ALCES group (www.alces.ca) and Alberta Tomorrow to further develop their mapping tools and school outreach program for their land simulator.

– $25,000 to Athabasca Watershed Council (www.acw-wpac.ca) for an outreach campaign to educated residents on the results of the watershed report and its impact for Albertans in the area.

– $20,000 to Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (CCVO) (www.calgarycvo.org) for a survey in non-profit leadership in Calgary and Area.

– $15,000 to Doors Open Calgary Society (DOCA) (www.doorsopenyyc.org) for a Calgary-wide public celebration to showcase the heritage, architectural and socially significant buildings in the city.

– $30,000 to Olds College (www.oldscollege.ca) toward the construction of a research facility on the management and treatment of wetland areas in Alberta.

– $38,000 to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) (www.nait.ca) for a solar array applied research project.

– $25,000 to The Natural Step (www.thenaturalstep.org) to facilitate the Sustainability Transition Lab in Edmonton: a dialogue in sustainability. 

Jay Freeman, the Chair of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, was extremely pleased with the breadth and diversity of the grants supported this round. He said, “There is a clear focus on land stewardship issues from large organizations and small. We are also pleased to support Alberta Tomorrow to build upon work that we have supported in the past making their tools accessible to more communities across Alberta. Projects like Doors Open are novel and proven, as they have achieved success in other Canadian cities. We look forward to their success in Calgary.”

Cynthia Klaasen is DOCA’s President. She says, “Thanks to the support, Doors Open Calgary Society will allow Calgarians to experience and appreciate some of the unique architectural and historical sites featured in this year’s Doors Open YYC event. The success of this event will help turn it into something Calgarians can enjoy year after year.”

Colin Baril from The Natural Step is excited to move forward with their Sustainability Transition Lab project. “Efforts to engage current and emerging community leaders to envision a sustainable and prosperous Edmonton will be the catalyst for a series of tangible projects to help Edmonton meaningfully address key challenges facing the city.”

Dr. Glenn Feltham, NAIT president and CEO says, “We deeply appreciate the Alberta Real Estate Foundation’s support of this very important initiative. We are committed to alternative energy research and finding solutions that will improve the quality of life of all Albertans.” The Alberta Real Estate Foundation is proud to be part of such important work.

The Alberta Real Estate Foundation supports initiatives that enhance the Real Estate Industry and benefit the communities of Alberta. The Foundation was set up in 1991 under the Alberta Real Estate Act. Since then, it has awarded over 14.1 million dollars in community and industry grants to over 452 projects across Alberta.