Program helps Sault family become homeowners

A Sault Ste. Marie program that gives people on social housing the opportunity to purchase a newly renovated home has just changed the lives of another local family.

On Friday, officials from the district social services handed over the keys to the young family of four.

A Sault Ste. Marie program that gives people on social housing the opportunity to purchase a newly renovated home has just changed the lives of another local family. (Photo from video)

Jason and Hannah McCoy, along with their two children Alayah and Grayson, are officially homeowners.

"We didn't think any of it was really going to be possible," Hannah said.

"And Melissa and Frank reached out and they made it seem like this is a possibility for our family."

This is the fourth home purchased and renovated through the Social Services Affordable Home Ownership Program.

The couple purchased the house for $250,000, with that money going back into the pot to continue the program.

"This is like our own plot of land, which is going to be awesome for raising them," Jason said.

"They're going to be able to play in their own backyard safely fenced in, and everything is good to go. So that's really nice to know."

At the event, the provincial government announced almost $870,000 to aid the training side of the program.

A Sault Ste. Marie program that gives people on social housing the opportunity to purchase a newly renovated home has just changed the lives of another local family. (Photo from video)

Since its inception, 42 people on Ontario Works have gained the skills to find full-time work, while renovating these homes.

"There's several different moving parts," said Kristy Maclean of Ontario Works.

"There's the home ownership piece. So someone who was in Sault Ste. Marie rehousing is now a homeowner that's freed up a unit for someone else on the waitlist. And then we have our participants that are coming every day and learning new skills."

"You have all the people who have secured employment through this and who have developed the skills that they need to be able to go on and continue moving forward within their own lives," said Sault MPP Ross Romano.

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"It's pretty impressive. And then you're also getting the beautification of the community."

The funding from the Province's Skills Development Fund means that social services can double its number of training slots, in turn doubling the number of houses for the program.

Work has already started on the next two renovations, on Queen Street and Andrew Street. Completion is expected around April.