The Portage la Prairie Community Revitalization Corporation (PCRC) will be holding their Community Roots zoom meeting to discuss opportunities for people looking to become homeowners.

Community facilitator Rachel Templeton says, due to the COVID pandemic, they've chosen to hold this meeting over zoom as opposed to in-person. She mentions they held a meeting back in November for any businesses that would be affiliated with the project, but notes they can still attend this one as well, as a lot of the information is the same.

She goes into detail on what the Community Roots program looks to achieve.

"Let's say you're currently renting right now and you live in Portage or the surrounding area," explains Templeton. "Maybe you're renting and you have that pre-approved mortgage, but you just don't quite have that five per cent down payment."

She goes on to say this program will cover that five per cent payment on a house worth up to $275,000, and $1,500 in closing costs. That may seem low, but that amount of money could easily get some Portagers over the hump when it comes to homeownership.

"You have to live in your house for a minimum amount of years," notes Templeton."You've had to have lived in Portage for at least a year, and you'll find out all these details on Wednesday night."

Anyone who wants to attend the meeting is asked to email at registrations@portagecrc.com. The session will take place on January 19, at 6:30 p.m.