First of its kind program helps Sault family become homeowners
A Sault family has made the move from subsidized housing to homeownership, thanks to a first-of-its-kind program in Ontario.
Dawn and Jason Lebrun have spent the better part of a decade in geared-to-income housing, but are now proud homeowners.
"There's constantly life things -- vehicle maintenance, making sure your bills are paid, your pets," said Jason Lebrun. "It seems like it would've taken ages to save for a down payment."
The program is a partnership between the Sault's social services administration board, Sault College and the provincial government.
It tasks social services with purchasing and renovating homes with a declining property assessment.
Through Sault College, it utilizes labour from Ontario Works training programs to complete the work, which in turn sees them complete their certifications.
The Lebruns were then able to buy the home with a guaranteed mortgage over the next five years, using equity from the home as the down payment.
"I've already started cleaning out some weeds and making plans for where our garden is going to go," said Dawn. "I found some raspberry bushes out there so I cleaned those up. We're just both so excited to finally move in."
City Coun. Luke Dufour sits as the board chair for social services and said the project has been his biggest achievement so far.
"This is something that I've had just a real privilege to see it go from idea, to concept, to proposal and then now to have solid, tangible results," Dufour said.
He said social services is targeting homes close to downtown, in an effort to revitalize the area.
The provincial government has provided $900,000 for the program, but Dufour said revenue from the sale of properties can be used to renovate other homes.
"As long as we can keep the employment program going and finding houses at the right price, we're just going to keep on running this."
Dufour said construction of two more properties is already underway.
The Lebruns officially get their keys on Aug. 3.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.
Parliamentary report on Emergencies Act decision is 18 months past due — and counting
The erstwhile group of senators and MPs studying the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act over the "Freedom Convoy" was supposed to present its findings in December. December of 2022, that is.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
A candidate for Germany's key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections
A candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left party in next month's election for the European Parliament was beaten up and seriously injured while campaigning in an eastern city, the party said Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.