Sherwood Park families move into new Habitat for Humanity homes
Posted August 20, 2025 3:59 pm.
Last Updated August 20, 2025 6:41 pm.
It’s been a difficult few years for Christelle Keou. Since moving to the Edmonton region from Cameroon in 2018, she’s struggled to settle from one rental to the next, all while looking for a better future for her children.
“It’s a beautiful country. Yes, but it’s not easy to afford things like a house, especially house and land, and we couldn’t afford like we couldn’t have 20,000, even 10,000 for a down payment,” said Keou, a new homeowner.
But Wednesday, Keou’s family was one of the two families, that got the keys to their new Habitat for Humanity homes. Part of a program that helps low-income families with low-interest mortgages.
“I don’t know how to describe my feelings. I don’t know. I’m still thinking that I’m dreaming. Yeah, we are so happy! We are so excited to move in to call this our house,” said Keou.
The homes are also part of a federal investment under the National Housing Strategy, which the Government of Canada has committed $3 million towards Habitat Edmonton projects.
“A neighbourhood is more than just houses; it’s the people, and their futures being built here,” said the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada. “Our new Government is proud to have partnered with Habitat for Humanity to make this housing development happen. As of result of this collaborative effort, more families will now have a high-quality and affordable place to call home in Sherwood Park.”
Habitat for Humanity Edmonton builds around eight to ten new homes every year, but with inflation and the ongoing tariff war with the United States, it’s been difficult to navigate fluctuating prices.
“That is a really tough number to put on it. I get asked that question a lot,” said Dave Armstrong, the vice president of Pacesetter Homes Edmonton.
Armstrong says they are constantly working to keep it affordable.
“We all want to keep our products affordable. So the manufacturer, my supplier and my installer and my team. We all absorbed a share of that cost for now. That can only continue for so long,” said Armstrong.
Deborah McKinnon, the vice president of strategic partnerships for Habitat for Humanity Edmonton, says, “Our biggest challenge is making sure that we can continue to grow fast enough to meet the needs of affordable home ownership in our communities. And that won’t change, whether the challenge is tariffs or whether the challenge is an economy.”
Habitat for Humanity admits they may need to build fewer homes, and want to keep the affordable mortgage plan unchanged for families like the Keou’s.
