When the Red Deer chapter of Habitat for Humanity is finished its next building project, two more families will become homeowners.

That project will be a duplex located in the Aspen Ridge neighbourhood, located in the city's southeast.

Once complete, Habitat in Red Deer will have housed 35 families in 23 years.

Karen Vavrek, CEO of the Red Deer chapter, made the announcement at ReStore, a shop that the charity operates to sell donated and used building materials. Earnings support the organization's homebuilding program.

Vavrek said there are about 135 families on the waiting list to attain permanent housing with Habitat.

Habitat families are heavily involved in the construction of their homes, contributing 500 hours of "sweat equity." In exchange, there's no down payment and their mortgage comes interest-free.

(Jancee Hawthorne and daughter Keely, Lacombe residents and a Habitat family. They were at ReStore in Red Deer on Saturday as the organization announced its next build project.)

Jancee Hawthorne and her 15-year-old daughter Keely were one of Habitat's families. In July, they moved into their home in Lacombe.

After renting for 25 years, Hawthorne finally feels at home. She no longer walks on eggshells in her own home, worrying about a landlord's reaction should something get damaged, as she's now competent with repairs -- she helped build her own house, after all.

"I wish I was raising my babies in this house because before I was such a paranoid mom. No holes in the wall. Don't wreck that, don't wreck that. I was so scared of my landlord," Hawthorne said.

"We're going to be there forever. Never had a 'forever' feeling."

Hawthorne is grateful for the stability. She's giving back by volunteering with Habitat.

She's always been active citizen with minor sports and school, but said she feels more deeply rooted in the community. She's in it for the long haul.

Vavrek said community involvement is crucial to Habitat projects. It takes between eight to 10 months to move a Habitat family into their home. She's asking people to donate money, materials, time and expertise.

"It's a great legacy for them to leave behind in their community," she said.