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
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Here's why Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction was tossed and what happens next
Here's what you need to know about why movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction was thrown out and what happens next.
Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.
Humanist group threatening to sue Vancouver over council prayers
The B.C. Humanist Association has threatened legal action against the City of Vancouver for allowing prayers at council, following a similar warning issued earlier this month to a smaller community on Vancouver Island.
LHSC performs a Canadian first in robot-assisted direct lateral spine surgery
Spine surgery may never be the same for people with chronic back pain and other physical ailments.