From three to a room to a room of one's own: Moncton family to get new home

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For Sulieman El Terek, the best part of finding out that his family will be new homeowners is that it means all ten of them will be able to stay together.

The El Terek family was chosen to be Habitat for Humanity Moncton's newest homeowners. 

"We are so happy because we are finally getting something (that) can fit all of us and we don't have to leave," said Sulieman of the cramped social housing bungalow the family currently lives in.

A bigger home will relieve the pressure on the older children to move out to make space for the rest of of the family.

Sulieman is the second oldest of eight siblings, ranging in age from early twenties to nine months old.

His family moved to Canada nearly five years ago after fleeing Syria for Lebanon. They came as refugees, and have made Moncton their new home.

But the ten member family is squeezed into four bedrooms, with two bathrooms and only one shower.

"Our plan when we moved from Syria (was) to be together, we didn't move for everyone (to) separate. That's not good for us. You know what I mean, we like to be around each other, helping each other."

Accessibility

Aside from the small size of the clean, sparsely decorated bungalow, the house isn't wheelchair accessible. The doorways and bathrooms don't accommodate Mazen El Terek, the oldest son, who has mobility issues. 

This is all set to change when the new home is built in a lot donated by the city of Dieppe.

Sulieman has seen the plans for the six bedroom bungalow with a finished basement.

"The bathroom will be a big bathroom, big doors, very accessible for my brother and us. It has six rooms and a big kitchen, big living room," he said.

The new house

Chantal Landry, executive director at Habitat for Humanity Moncton, said the family was one a few who applied and was chosen because they had the greatest need.

"In their case, they're a family of 10. So therefore, the house wasn't accommodating the size of the family, but they also had a family member who had a disability and … the house wasn't accessible," she said.