Carpentry students to construct affordable housing


February 25, 2015 - Saskatchewan Polytechnic students will soon help build affordable housing in Prince Albert through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. 

The two organizations signed a memorandum of agreement today that will see carpentry students work on one house a year for Habitat for Humanity. Under the five-year plan, the students will frame houses and install windows, exterior doors, siding, soffits and shingles.

"Sask Polytech's partnership with Habitat for Humanity will provide students an opportunity to hone newly acquired skills, while at the same time contributing to the Prince Albert community in a meaningful way," says Dr. Larry Rosia, Saskatchewan Polytechnic president and CEO

Electrician students may also get in on the action, roughing in electrical systems before the houses are moved off campus and onto sites acquired and prepared by Habitat for Humanity.

"This is an initiative that we have worked on together to strengthen our community, which will provide students the opportunity to apply their training and skills so that a family can enjoy affordable housing in a safe environment," says Morris Sawchuk, past chair of Habitat for Humanity, Prince Albert.

Habitat for Humanity will fund materials for the homes and will be responsible for finishing work, aided by the families that will live in the homes.

In recent years, Habitat for Humanity has built on average six homes annually in Prince Albert. The organization has operated in the city since 1995 and has built 28 homes.
Habitat for Humanity works with volunteers and through community partnerships to help low-income families become homeowners. Requirements include an investment of 500 hours of "sweat equity" by the future homeowners.

The partnership with Saskatchewan Polytechnic is expected to involve up to 60 students annually. Each year, Sask Polytech has approximately 900 carpentry and electrician students in Prince Albert and 2,500 across the province.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic serves 26,000 distinct students through applied learning opportunities at campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon, and through extensive distance education opportunities. Programs serve every economic and public service sector. As a polytechnic, the organization provides the depth of learning appropriate to employer and student need, including certificate, diploma and degree programs, and apprenticeship training. Saskatchewan Polytechnic engages in applied research, drawing on faculty expertise to support innovation by employers, and
providing students the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills.
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Printable media release (pdf).

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