Okanagan College Media Release

The innovative trades training program that pairs residential construction students with hands-on learning through the building of a home, will break new ground early next year in Penticton when Okanagan College’s Home for Learning program joins forces with Habitat for Humanity’s South Okanagan chapter.

The program sees students with little or no experience in the construction trades undergo 6-8 weeks of classroom training before stepping onto a construction site where they work as a team to build a home from the ground up.

The 2009 Home for Learning project will be the third home built by Okanagan College in the South Okanagan. Previous projects included a Built Green BC designated home in Summerland, a series of not-for-profit projects in Cawston and a second residence in Summerland, which is nearing completion.

Traditionally, the Home for Learning program partners with community and industry sponsors, building the home at a reduced cost before putting it on the market. The net proceeds from the sale of the home are reinvested in the program, providing scholarships for trades students and purchasing new tools and equipment.

The 2009 South Okanagan Home for Learning will not be sold at the end of the project – it already has an owner -- Maria Cox -- a single mother of two who is also an Okanagan College alumna.

Cox was selected as the recipient of the Habitat for Humanity project after a lengthy process, explained Florence Barton, Chairperson of Habitat for Humanity South Okanagan.

“This project is going to be a win-win situation for everyone involved,” said Barton. “Maria’s family is in need of an affordable home and through this community partnership, we are going to be able to build an environmentally sustainable home that Maria will buy at Habitat’s cost to build it. In exchange for doing 500 hours of work for Habitat, Maria will get an interest-free mortgage.”

The 2009 South Okanagan Home for Learning will include one other major partner, School District 67 Okanagan Skaha. As has been the case with previous projects, students from within the school district have the option of taking the program through the provincial ACE IT program, which allows students to earn technical training credit for level one Carpentry at Okanagan College as part of their high school graduation program.

The home has been designed by local architect Cal Meiklejohn and a lot has been selected. The lot is currently pending approval by the City of Penticton. Students in the program will be instructed by Okanagan College faculty while receiving overall project management from Habitat for Humanity board member and former building inspector, Ken Kunka.

“The project is going to do a lot of good for our community,” said Barton. “Since Habitat's mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means of breaking the cycle of poverty this partnership is a perfect fit. Maria and her family are going to have a great new place to call home and my hope is that the young people who work on the house also learn the importance of contributing to the community through volunteerism.

The joint project with Okanagan College will be the second home built by Habitat for Humanity South Okanagan. The organization was established in the region in 2004 when it began building its first home.

To find out more about the Home for Learning project visit: www.okanagan.bc.ca or call 250-492-4305. For more information about Habitat for Humanity visit: www.habitatsouthokanagan.ca.