Vanessa McLean promised her sons Sam and Matthew Jackson they would have a home of their own someday.After many years of ups and downs, and thanks to Habitat for Humanity, McLean has finally made good on her promise.McLean and her family have been selected by Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast as the recipients of Habitat's first affordable housing project.McLean, her sons and other family members were officially introduced to the public during Sunday's ground-breaking ceremony in Gibsons.The family is currently living on Flume Road in Roberts Creek. They've struggled at times to make a go of things and are looking forward to having what McLean calls a "normal living arrangement.""Things like a proper kitchen that is functioning and a laundry room that isn't always full of water are things I've only dreamed about before," said McLean. "Just knowing this house is ours and we won't have to leave unless we want to is a tremendous feeling."McLean said she has been looking for affordable housing for a long time."I've been single and separated for about 10 years. Over the years I've tried to get mortgages but just haven't been able to save enough money," she said. "Now it's even harder what with housing prices. Years and years ago before Habitat arrived on the Coast, I contacted Habitat's provincial office in Vancouver. I learned about the program and I thought that someday it might be an option."One day, McLean noticed the Habitat sign on the Living Faith Lutheran Church in Davis Bay.She started to volunteer with the group's recycling program."Initially, I wanted to get involved just to volunteer," McLean said.While volunteering with the group, McLean was commuting to Vancouver where she was going to Vancouver Community College taking a nurses' aide course. "I worked at Kiwanis as a cook for five years, but when privatization came, I lost my job," she said. "I went on EI and went back to school. When I passed the course, I re-applied at Kiwanis. Now I work there as a nurses' aide and activities' co-ordinator."With her career stable, McLean had the confidence to begin looking at Habitat's housing application process."We went through several interviews and applications," she said. "I was told a little while ago we were close to being accepted. We were starting to get excited, but until the final word came, it was hard to get our hopes up. When we were accepted, we were over the moon."Pat Hennessey, chair of Habitat's selection committee, said the McLeans were the unanimous choice."They're really great people and so deserving of the opportunity," Hennessey said. He noted Habitat received 35 applications and narrowed those down to 23.The committee complied a list of eight to 10 applicants for interviews.He said the choice was pretty easy in the end."It was a pretty exhaustive process, but it worked out very well," he added.Part of Habitat's mandate is for the family who is taking possession of the home to work on the construction.McLean said she and her sons are looking forward to starting that process."Sam wants to pound some nails and get in on the painting," she said. "In fact, he's got some of his friends who have volunteered to help out. It's going to be fun. We can't wait to get started."
