News from Habitat for Humanity Canada http://habitat.ca/hfhcnewsp4237.php 120 Full article 1_154available at: www.habitat.ca (Niagara Falls) May 3 - Today, Habitat for Humanity Canada presented Johannes Ziebarth with the fifth-annual Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life National Award for Leadership in Sustainable and Affordable Home Building at its Annual General Meeting in Niagara Falls. Johannes Ziebarth is the President of Habitat for Humanity National Capital Region's (NCR) Board of Directors, and has been instrumental in instituting and advancing recognized sustainable building practices[1]over his more than 15 years as a volunteer with the organization. The award was created in 2009 to encourage and inspire more volunteers to champion the issue of affordable homeownership in their community. It was also designed to encourage the adoption of sustainable building practices to address "energy poverty" - an affordability issue many households face in the wake of increasing utility costs. The annual award provides $25,000 to a Habitat for Humanity volunteer in Canada for direction toward a Habitat sustainable building project. "Home ownership provides a multitude of personal and community benefits and yet, for many low-income families, rising utility costs are an extra financial challenge," says Jan Belanger, Assistant Vice-President, Community Affairs, Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life. "Our hope is that this award encourages individuals like Johannes to actively support and engage in affordable and sustainable home building as a means to help Canadians break the 'energy poverty' cycle." Johannes Ziebarth has volunteered thousands of hours with Habitat for Humanity NCR since the 1990s, and currently serves as the organization's Board President. An electrical contractor by trade, Johannes has provided the equivalent of $750,000 in support to Habitat for Humanity NCR through fundraising efforts and has personally wired 40 Habitat homes built in the region. Johannes' efforts have also resulted in the development of a major long-term partnership between Habitat for Humanity NCR and Bonneville Homes, a builder of sustainable pre-engineered homes, enabling his local Habitat affiliate to build green for several years to come. "Last year, 80 percent of the 220 Habitat homes built in Canada were constructed to recognized green building standards," said Kevin Marshman, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. "It's because of the efforts of dedicated volunteers like Johannes that Habitat is not only able to provide affordable ownership of safe and decent homes, but also improve our communities by building sustainably." Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life, along with their staff and distribution associates, have a long history of supporting Habitat for Humanity Canada, sponsoring multiple builds and contributing hundreds of volunteer hours. In 2009, Great-West Life and its subsidiaries made a five-year commitment of $250,000 to create and support this award program. About Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life: Great-West Life is a leading Canadian insurer which, together with its subsidiaries, London Life and Canada Life, serves the financial security needs of more than 12 million people across Canada. As an Imagine Caring Company, Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life donate a minimum of one per cent of average pre-tax profits to non-profit, charitable and community organizations each year. About Habitat for Humanity Canada: Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit organization working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. With the help of over 63,000 volunteers every year and 69 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, their mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to break the cycle of poverty in Canada and around the world. For more information on Habitat for Humanity Canada, please visit www.habitat.ca. -30- For more information, please contact: Derek Mletzko Manager, Marketing & Communications Habitat for Humanity Canada (416) 294-3039 dmletzko@habitat.ca Marlene Klassen Assistant Vice-President, Communication Services Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life (204) 946-7705 marlene.klassen@gwl.ca [1] Definition of Sustainable Building Practice as it applies to Habitat for Humanity (HFH): When considering "sustainability" one thinks of exploiting natural resources without destroying the ecological balance of an area. To Habitat for Humanity, Sustainable Building Practices also take into consideration enhanced Energy Efficiency, aligning with locally recognized initiatives/programs and limiting the environmental impact of the house during construction and after occupancy. At the same time, Habitat for Humanity makes a concerted effort to maintain true affordability for the organization during construction and for the Partner Family once they occupy the dwelling. Thu, 16 May 2013 11:34:40 -0500 Full article 1_155available at: www.habitat.ca To lead in the continued execution of our 2012-2016 Strategic Plan, I welcome new members to our National Board of Directors for three-year terms. In addition, I congratulate Mary Cameron, a National Board member since 2008, for her appointment to the role of Board Chair. For five years, Mary Cameron, President, Cameron and Company, and Partner, WestLife Partners Inc., has provided crucial support to our National Board of Directors, most recently holding the position Vice-Chair and contributing in this capacity towards our Strategic Plan Committee and Integrated Funding Committee. Faced with incredible need in Canada, Habitat for Humanity Canada's aggressive Strategic Plan calls for 1,800 additional families to receive the hand up of affordable Habitat homeownership by 2016 - the same number it originally took our organization 25 years to achieve. A diverse set of talent and skills will be required across the organization to reach this goal, and I excitedly anticipate our Board's continued leadership in our transforming more lives than ever before. New members of Habitat for Humanity Canada's National Board of Directors include Darcy Ferron, Vice-President, Trade Finance at BMO Capital Markets; Ed McMahon, Vice President, Operations, Everik International Inc.; Andrew Robertson, Counsel and Senior Partner with Norton Rose Canada; and Greg Stewart, President and Chief Executive Officer, Farm Credit Canada. We also celebrate the contributions of outgoing members Keith Mombourquette, Ron Drane and Max Stocker, having now served 3-year terms. More about Habitat for Humanity Canada's new National Board members: Darcy Ferron Darcy represents the Bank of Montreal as Vice-President, Trade Finance, where he is responsible for leading the development of new business and managing existing relationships with importers and exporters. He plays an important advisory role to small and large corporations alike as one of the bank's foremost experts in global business. Darcy is the former Director of Business Development for the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT), negotiating new and expanding current partnerships with sector councils, associations, government, private enterprise and educational partners. Darcy now sits on the FITT Board of Directors as an elected member. Prior to joining FITT, Darcy served as a Consultant with International Financial Consulting Ltd. where he played an important role in numerous projects, including authoring EDC's Export Finance Guide, as well as providing foreign buyer risk assessment training for Russia's Vnesheconombank. In 2006, Darcy completed an executive interchange with Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, advising the Minister on complex trade policy issues and transactions. Darcy is a graduate of the Executive MBA program at HEC Montreal-McGill University and is a Certified International Trade Professional (CITP). He also holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) degree from the University of Ottawa. Ed McMahon Ed is a senior business leader with broad experience running and consulting to organizations large and small. Ed brings this consultative approach and a practical, operational perspective to all the work he does. He excels at building organizational capacity and creating highly effective teams. For the past nine years, Ed has served on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity Halton, most recently as Chair, during which time the affiliate continuously grew its ability to serve partner families. As Chair, Ed instituted the affiliate's first five-year strategy and business planning process, a practice that remains in place. He also oversaw the redrafting of the local Habitat affiliate's bylaws to entrench more appropriate governance practices. He employs a practical, planful and collegial approach to Habitat's work. Ed believes that Habitat for Humanity Canada is poised for even greater success, and that ongoing leadership is required from the National Board of Directors to ensure that Habitat stays true to its mission, provides the appropriate resources to affiliates at all levels, and continues to evolve its governance practices in a manner consistent with its level of organizational maturity. Andrew Robertson While Chair of Habitat for Humanity Calgary, Andrew was instrumental in the merger of four Alberta affiliates as Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta, working with Habitat for Humanity Canada as well as representatives from the affiliates. Andrew is a Queen's Counsel and Senior Partner with Norton Rose Canada (formerly Macleod Dixon) in the Calgary office, where he has practised law for 30 years, after a two-year period practising in Calgary with McCaffery & Company, which followed a year of articling with Nelligan/Power in Ottawa. His expertise is in employment & labour law, including human rights and disability matters, although over his career he has also practised criminal (defence) law, commercial civil litigation generally, and real estate-related litigation (mortgage foreclosures) in particular. Andrew has had extensive experience in public speaking, primarily on employment, disability, human rights and related topics. Greg Stewart Greg Stewart has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Farm Credit Canada (FCC), headquartered in Regina, Saskatchewan, since November 2007. He joined FCC in 1987 and worked in a number of progressively responsible positions, gaining extensive experience in operations and risk management. In 2002, Greg assumed the role of Senior Vice-President, National Lending Operations; in 2005 Chief Operating Officer; and in 2007 he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer. FCC is Canada's leading agriculture lender, with 100,000 customers, and a loan portfolio of more than $25 billion. FCC provides financing, insurance, software, learning programs and other business services to producers, agribusinesses and agri-food operations. Greg has been actively involved with Habitat for Humanity Regina, as a Board member since 2006, serving on the Audit & Finance Committee. Greg is also very active with Habitat Canada's Global Village program. He is a trained team leader, participating in five Global Village trips in the past three years, leading four of them. Two more trips are planned for 2013. Greg also volunteers his time as a Board member for the Ignite Adult Learning Corporation and Food Banks Canada. Thu, 16 May 2013 11:34:40 -0500 Full article 1_153available at: www.habitat.ca (Toronto) March 21, 2013 - Habitat for Humanity Canada applauds the Harper government's renewal of the Investment in Affordable Housing and for ensuring affordable housing funds support the use of apprentices in Economic Action Plan 2013. "The Harper government's renewed investment in affordable housing comes as great news for low-income families looking to buy a safe, decent and affordable Habitat home and for young Canadians who receive apprenticeship training on Habitat build sites, developing trade skills that lead to good jobs," said Kevin Marshman, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. Habitat for Humanity affiliates and low-income families across Canada have benefited from the Investment in Affordable Housing. Since 2006, the federal government's support of affordable housing through this initiative has assisted in providing affordable homeownership for over one thousand low-income families. In addition, Habitat for Humanity build sites have served as classrooms for over one thousand apprentices and pre-apprentices each year. "Habitat for Humanity Canada supports the direction the federal government is taking to address the severe shortages in affordable housing and skilled trades," added Mr. Marshman. "With the leadership the Prime Minister has shown today, Habitat stands ready to transform the lives of even more families who dream of affordable homeownership, while preparing a generation of trade students to join the skilled labour force that will fuel Canada's growth." About Habitat for Humanity Canada Habitat for Humanity Canada is currently in the midst of a strategic plan goal to build 1,800 more homes by 2016, the same number it originally took 25 years to achieve. Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit organization working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. With the help of over 63,000 volunteers every year and 69 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, their mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to break the cycle of poverty in Canada and around the world. For more information, please visit www.habitat.ca. - 30 - Contact: Jason Kuzminski VP, Government Relations and Advocacy Habitat for Humanity Canada Office: (416) 644-0988 x362 Cell: (647) 620-3279 jkuzminski@habitat.ca Mon, 6 May 2013 14:52:31 -0500 Full article 1_151available at: www.habitat.ca (Toronto) March 18, 2013 - Today, Habitat for Humanity Canada's newly appointed president & CEO, Kevin Marshman, announced Habitat for Humanity will significantly increase the number of homes it builds over each of the next four years, providing more low-income families than ever before with the benefits of affordable homeownership. "Between increasing food, utility and rent costs, low-income families are finding it more and more difficult to meet their basic needs," said Mr. Marshman. "For hardworking families that can seemingly never get ahead, affordable Habitat homeownership is needed now more than ever." Mr. Marshman joins Habitat for Humanity Canada as President & CEO as the organization enters its second build season after launching an ambitious five-year plan, targeting the construction of an additional 1,800 homes through 2016. The organization sees their homeownership model as a key component to alleviating poverty among low-income families because unlike any other affordable housing option, Habitat families purchase their home and build equity for their future as they pay down a no-interest mortgage that is geared to their income. "Habitat homes are transformational, allowing families to break the cycle of poverty, afford life's basic necessities, and put their focus on thriving, rather than just surviving," added Mr. Marshman. "I look forward to being there as we hand over the keys to a better life to thousands of more Canadians." More about Kevin Marshman Kevin Marshman brings to the leading role of Habitat for Humanity Canada an impressive resume of 30+ years experience at top Canadian and international corporations. Most recently, Mr. Marshman acted as Vice President, International Services Americas at NCR Corporation, directing the technology, networking and service-provider company in Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America. In addition to his career commitments, Mr. Marshman has also been a leading volunteer at Ronald McDonald House, Toronto since 2005, most recently as Lead Director of the Government Relations Committee. Here, Mr. Marshman led an effort to secure more than $17 million to build Toronto's new 96-bedroom Ronald McDonald House facility, the largest in the world. About Habitat for Humanity Canada Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit organization working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. With the help of over 63,000 volunteers every year and 69 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, their mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to break the cycle of poverty in Canada and around the world. For more information, please visit www.habitat.ca. - 30 - Contact: Derek Mletzko Manager, Marketing and Communications Habitat for Humanity Canada Office: (416) 644-0988 x326 dmletzko@habitat.ca Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:04:49 -0500 Full article 1_134available at: www.habitat.ca Habitat for Humanity Canada Foundation has been recognized among the top rated charities in the country, earning a cumulative grade of A- and an A+ in overall charity efficiency following MoneySense Magazine's review of Canada's largest 100 charities. "Habitat for Humanity Canada works hard to ensure that donated funds end up in the right place," says Stewart Hardacre, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. "With this MoneySense rating, our donors can have greater faith in our charity while new donors can give knowing that their money is going to people in need." MoneySense, a Canadian personal finance magazine, developed the rating system to help Canadian donors pick organizations that spend funds wisely, allowing them to give with confidence. Charities are graded based on five categories with information obtained by the Canadian Revenue Agency, charity websites and the charities themselves. Complete Results for Habitat for Humanity Canada: Overall Charity Efficiency % of spending going to program Grade 82.4% A+ Funding Efficiency Cost to raise $100 Grade $13.31 B Governance and Transparency Score out of 10 (+1 bonus point) Grade 9.6 A- Reserve Fund Size Reserves on Hand Grade 2 mo. C Compensation Top Salary $160,000-$199,999 Overall Grade A- MoneySense explanation of indicators: Overall Charity Efficiency: This grade measures the percentage of charity expenditures that go toward program costs, rather than overhead and fundraising costs. The higher the percentage going to program costs, the better the grade. Maximum points are given to charities that spend 85% or more on programs. Fundraising Efficiency:This grade looks at how much the charity spends to raise money. The less the charity has to spend to raise $100, the better the grade. Maximum points are given to organizations that spend less than $10. Governance and Transparency: This grade is mainly based on responses to a governance questionnaire we sent out. Points were also given to organizations that post their complete audited financial statements on their website. Reserve Fund Size: Here we give top grades to charities that have between three months and three years worth of reserves on hand. We exuded community foundations from this category, as they hold reserves for other charities. Note that this category was given only half the weight of the other three categories. How to interpret the grades: As much as possible, we tried to grade the charities in relation to their peers. To do this, we grouped similar charities together and normalized the grades. As a result, two charities with similar raw data may receive quite different grades if they are in different categories. For instance, a charity in one category that devotes 90% of expenditures to program costs may get an A+ for Overall Charity Efficiency, while another type of organization spending the same percentage may get an A-. That's because the charities are rated in relation to the others in the same category. Click here for the results from the other 99 Canadian charities reviewed. Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:16:22 -0500 Full article 1_150available at: www.habitat.ca It was early 2009 that University of Toronto Engineering student Davis Doan first approached Habitat for Humanity Toronto. He had an idea of raising enough money to build an entire house. Full of enthusiasm and energy, he set out to engage his fellow U of T students to raise the $80,000 needed to do so. Thong Doan (left), father of Davis Doan, joins the Eyes of Hope Executive Committee and Genworth Canada's Linda Belanger (second from right) at the announcement of Genworth's support of the Eyes of Hope home, July 2012. Davis Doan (bottom right) and Eyes of Hope volunteers at Habitat for Humanity Toronto's Hainford build site, July 2009. Sadly, in May the following year, Habitat Toronto was informed that Davis had passed away following a battle with cancer. He was 25 years old. The news came as a shock to staff, who had grown to know Davis as an ambitious and determined community volunteer. During his time working with Habitat, he had never given any indication he was ill. But Davis' vision did not end there. Following his passing, fellow U of T students and friends continued the work he started through a group founded by Davis called Eyes of Hope. Motivated to transform the lives of a local low-income family and honour the work Davis had set out to complete, they continued to push forward, towards their goal. Friend and Eyes of Hope member, Anna Bui, said about Davis, "he always dreamt big and strived hard to achieve those dreams, even if they seemed far from possible." And as time passed, raising the full amount was beginning to seem just that - far from possible. That is, until Linda Belanger, Leader of Community Relations at Genworth Canada, learned of Davis' story and the trouble the students were having in carrying out his legacy. "I was touched by Davis' story, and how hard the students were working to bring his vision to life," said Linda. Days later, Genworth Canada announced they would donate $40,000 to match every dollar raised through Eyes of Hope for the Habitat home, bringing the students only $14,000 away from their goal. "We're honoured to be part of such an inspirational project," added Linda. "I'm sure Davis would be very proud of what is being done here." On October 10, ground was broken on the four bedroom Eyes of Hope home. Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:20:47 -0500 Full article 1_149available at: www.habitat.ca Being grateful for what she has, inspired 11-year old Chaamindri Fernando from Winnipeg, Manitoba to write this winning essay in Genworth Canada's sixth annual Meaning of Home contest: Chaamindri has chosen Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg to be the recipient of the $60,000 grant her entry has won. Changing My Life I share a room with my brother but I should have my own He always makes a mess But I changed my mind when i knew… you slept on the road side benches shivering in the cold sometimes wet in the rain. I want a new shirt, in a store I cry and cry for that one I like it because it's purple But I changed my mind when I knew… you were wearing grubby, torn clothes too big for you given to you by some stranger "I want pizza today" I scolded my mom "With lots of cheese and pepperoni" But I changed my mind when I knew… you were begging for food you had stale bread and water "I want to play soccer" "Playing tag is boring" I was fighting with my friends But I changed my mind when I knew… you didn't have a ball, a net or even a playground to play on I share a room with my little brother that I love I'm grateful for what I have I never grumble I eat what my mother made with love I wear what I have Thank you for changing my life Maybe I will try to change yours The Meaning of Home contest invites Grade 4, 5 and 6 students from across Canada to submit a written essay about what home means to them for a chance to direct $60,000 to a Habitat for Humanity build of their choice in Canada and receive a pizza party for their entire school. Chaamindri's essay was chosen among close to 5,000 entries from all parts of Canada. Participation over 2011 grew by more than 55 per cent this year, and more than 250 per cent in some provinces. "We are thrilled to see such a significant hike in participation this year," said Brian Hurley, chairman and CEO of Genworth Canada. "It's rewarding to know that our contest inspires children, teachers and parents across the country to reflect on what home truly means and take action to help provide a home for families in need." Since inception in 2007, the Meaning of Home contest has resulted in approximately $570,000 in total grants from Genworth Canada being directed to more than 30 Canadian Habitat affiliates. With Genworth Canada donating an additional $5 per entry again this year, every participating student helped bring a family closer to homeownership. "In Canada, the homes of a staggering 1.5 million families are unsafe, too small, or unaffordable," said Mark Rodgers, Chief Operating Officer of Habitat for Humanity Canada. "Each year, the Meaning of Home contest demonstrates the passion of today's youth in ensuring that all children have a good place to call home at the end of the day." Chaamindri has chosen Habitat for Humanity Manitoba as the beneficiary of her $60,000 prize grant. Five runners-up were also selected and awarded a $5,000 grant each to direct to a Habitat for Humanity affiliate of their choice. The runners-up and their Habitat beneficiaries are the following: ·Andrew Geffrion, Kanesatake, Quebec - Habitat for Humanity Deux Montagnes ·Annalies Henckel, Courtenay, British Columbia - Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North ·Sammi Szeto, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia - Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia ·Denver Winch, Oakville, Ontario - Habitat for Humanity Halton ·Abby Howard, Whitby, Ontario - Habitat for Humanity Durham For the first time this year, students were invited to post videos describing what home means to them for a chance to win additional prizes. The videos are available at www.youtube.com/meaningofhome. To read Chaamindri's complete essay and the other winning entries, visit www.meaningofhome.ca. About Genworth Canada Genworth Canada is the brand name of Genworth Financial Mortgage Insurance Company Canada, a subsidiary of Genworth MI Canada Inc. (TSX:MIC) and the country's largest private residential mortgage insurer. The Company provides mortgage default insurance to Canadian residential mortgage lenders, making homeownership more accessible to first-time homebuyers. Through innovative processing technology, differentiated customer service offerings and a robust risk management framework, Genworth Canada has delivered exceptional value, thought leadership, and safety and soundness to the housing market for nearly two decades. Genworth Canada continues to have a strong balance sheet and as of September 30, 2012, the Company had $5.6 billion total assets and $2.9 billion shareholders' equity. Find out more at www.genworth.ca. Habitat for Humanity Canada: Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit organization working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. With the help of over 50,000 volunteers every year and 69 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, their mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to break the cycle of poverty in Canada and around the world. For more information, please visit www.habitat.ca. - 30 - For additional information or to arrange interviews, please contact: Lisa Azzuolo Genworth Canada 905.287.5520 lisa.azzuolo@genworth.com Fri, 1 Feb 2013 14:51:00 -0500 Full article 1_148available at: www.habitat.ca As seen on theglobeandmail.com January 11 Saturday marks the third anniversary of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti and left 1.5 million people displaced or homeless. Rebuilding has been slow. In the three years since a 'republic of NGOs' descended on Haiti, their lack of progress is beginning to cause the faith of some Canadians to be shaken, if not completely lost. In this picture taken Jan. 8, 2013, a cross memorializing the victims of the 2010 earthquake who are buried at the spot in mass graves is silhouetted against the setting sun in Titanyen, north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. (Dieu Nalio Chery /Associated Press) Indeed, the Minister of International Co-operation's concern with the slow progress in Haiti is so great, he announced a review of Canada's long-term strategy for the still reeling nation. Others, like Margaret Wente and Don Cherry, would go further and have Canada retreat from Haiti altogether. It is fair to say that among Canadians, in general, confidence and hope for rebuilding Haiti are at an all-time low. As a leading voice, Habitat for Humanity Canada acknowledges the need to rebuild confidence in the NGO sector if NGOs are going to rebuild Haiti. It means joining the debate on Canada's future in Haiti and taking on those who would give up hope. It also requires all of us in the sector to take a long hard look at the work we are doing and prove that it delivers sustainable impact as promised. Julian Fantino, the Minister of International Co-operation, is right to ask for accountability and a review is welcome. The international aid sector should be challenged to achieve what it sets out to do. Canadians deserve to know that the dollars they contribute to rebuilding Haiti are actually producing results. When the earthquake hit in 2010, Habitat for Humanity had been in Haiti for more than two decades. We were there to build safe, decent shelter, as well as the capacity and skills of Haitian women and men. As such, Habitat for Humanity has a long perspective on the successes and failures of the rebuilding process. The world saw the destruction but we were already on the ground as lives were lost, homes destroyed, and billions of dollars in damage occurred. Then came the flood of NGOs from around the world, with some estimates putting the number of organizations there to 'help' at 9,000. Some of those had great impact. Others had impact that was slower to progress than expected. But many only added to the chaos and confusion on the ground. Greater accountability over aid dollars is the only effective way to thin the ranks of those who are getting in the way of real progress in rebuilding Haiti. Aid agencies must be held accountable for every dollar received from donors and partners - including the Canadian government and taxpayers who have invested in our projects in Haiti and elsewhere. With the support of the Canadian International Development Agency, Habitat Canada just completed a neighborhood revival project in Simon Pele, an urban slum of Port-au-Prince. The return on the $1.3-million Canadian taxpayers invested in our aid project helped build safe, decent shelter for almost 4,600 families and provided practical skills and job training for 23,000 Haitian women and men. Results matter. Habitat for Humanity has contributed to emergency and permanent housing for more than 50,000 families or 250,000 individuals to date. Canadian volunteers in the Jimmy Carter Work Project helped build 100 homes during its first week-long project in November, 2011, and another 100 homes in Leogane in 2012. The results of these projects demonstrate that there has been positive, effective progress in Haiti. To those like Don Cherry and Margaret Wente who propose we turn our backs and watch Haiti disappear in our rear-view mirror, we implore you to reconsider because the need is great and real progress is and will continue to be possible. A move towards greater accountability will restore the confidence Canadians need to not turn their backs, close their wallets or shut their minds to the issues in Haiti. Resources are available, such as through Canada Revenue Agency, to assist in selecting NGOs to ensure funds donated impact real change. Canadians know the need continues to be great and do not want to turn away from Haiti, but they are right to expect that everyone working there be accountable for their actions and spending. There are results-based, effective and cost efficient recovery and development projects being done in Haiti by hard-working NGOs. This is not a time to stop what we're doing, but rather to learn from what we have done to ensure we can effectively complete what we've started. Fri, 1 Feb 2013 13:27:39 -0500 Full article 1_146available at: www.habitat.ca At age 14, Raymond Graham isn't old enough to volunteer on a Habitat build site, so instead he's contributing to his family's Habitat sweat equity requirement by working with the local food share program and animal shelter in his home town of Nanaimo, British Columbia. Sweat equity is a 500-hour volunteer requirement of all new Habitat families and is completed as part of the repayment of their home. Most of the time this takes place on a Habitat build site, but like in Raymond's case, exceptions are made based on age or physical ability. "Sweat equity allows families to set roots in the community," said Teresa Pring, Habitat for Humanity Mid-Vancouver Island CEO. "It also gives them a greater sense of pride in their home, having worked hundreds of hours as a family to achieve it." Between Raymond's efforts and those of his mom, Jo-Anne, they completed all 500 hours required well in advance of their move-in. Raymond says he's enjoyed helping out, but looks forward to the day he can volunteer on a Habitat build site. For now, he's happy to finally be getting his own backyard. Jo-Anne's anticipating the greater safety and security the home will provide for her and her son. BUILT GREEN Raymond and Jo-Anne's home is part of two energy efficient duplexes Habitat for Humanity Mid-Vancouver Island has planned for Nanaimo. Teresa Pring says that in an area where green-built homes are almost exclusively high-cost and custom-built, that they want to showcase that energy efficient and affordable can and should be synonymous. "Not only will the homes reduce environmental impact, but their increased efficiency means that they'll be less financially burdensome on homeowners," she added. Jo-Anne plans to use the savings in energy costs towards Raymond's college fund. Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:52:07 -0500 Full article 1_147available at: www.habitat.ca BURLINGTON, ON, December 19, 2012 - Today, Stewart Hardacre, President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada, joined Finance Minister Jim Flaherty for a roundtable discussion on priorities for the 2013 federal budget. The discussion is one of four pre-budget consultations scheduled across the country that is bringing together CEOs from leading businesses and non-profits across a variety sectors. "I want to discuss real workable ideas on how to solidify our economic recovery and position Canada to compete and prosper over the long term while preserving our fiscal advantage," Flaherty said following the first of these meetings, held November 30 in Victoria, BC. This is the first time Habitat for Humanity Canada has been invited to participate in pre-Budget consultations. The opportunity to join a select group of 16 business and non-profit leaders in Burlington comes as Habitat for Humanity Canada submitted a proposal for a federal investment in affordable homeownership that would significantly expand the number of low-income families it helps buy a safe, decent home they can afford. "I am delighted by Minister Flaherty's interest in hearing what Habitat for Humanity Canada has to offer Canadians and the opportunity to help shape the agenda," said Hardacre. "It allowed us to show how an investment in Habitat's affordable homeownership program will not only benefit the low-income families who purchase our homes, but also help the government save on what it spends for rent assistance while repaying taxpayers, as Habitat families pay property taxes on their homes." Habitat's homeownership model allows pre-approved low-income families to purchase a home with no down-payment required, and with zero interest accumulated on their mortgage. In addition to being a safe place for a family to grow, equity is built as mortgages are paid off, allowing families to break the cycle of poverty and get ahead in life. Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:48:13 -0500 Full article 1_144available at: www.habitat.ca April Smoke grew up on the Alderville First Nation, a reserve on the south shore of Rice Lake in Eastern Ontario. Although in some respects the Alderville First Nation is doing well, particularly in education, many community members still lack a safe, decent and affordable place to live. April's situation was bleak - her family struggled with a generational cycle of poverty, living in crowded and run-down conditions - but she was determined to break that cycle and create a better life for her and her son, Joshua. That drive to succeed and hope of a better future took her 500 kilometers away from home to Chatham, Ontario, where she looked to pursue post-secondary education. But student debt proved to be a huge financial burden, and all she could afford to live in was a crowded house in an unsafe neighbourhood. Job prospects were limited and the cycle of poverty looked like it would extend yet another generation. April's story is not uncommon and is one to consider in the context of National Housing Day. Many First Nations people throughout Canada, whether they live on reserves, settlement land or throughout Canada's cities and rural areas, struggle to break the cycle of poverty. A major barrier to this is access to affordable housing. Affordable housing is a growing but invisible problem in Canada. A new survey of Canadians showed that while 64 percent believe housing will be less affordable in the future, few feel it is a problem in their community. But we know that it is a problem, and one that affects many communities, and many First Nations across Canada. First Nations people in Canada are currently faced with a devastating 85,000-unit housing shortage, and according to a federal evaluation of First Nations housing, on reserves or Aboriginal settlement land, 42 percent of existing housing is in need of repair. Even in cities, where many First Nations people have relocated to look for work and seize economic opportunities, they are drastically over-represented among Canadians whose housing falls short in minimum adequacy standards. This is most pronounced in the country's northern regions, where housing is often unsafe for families and hazardous to their health. To realize our potential, we will need to build our human capital, develop our economies and get our fair share of the profits from our traditional lands. We will need to affirm our rights and seize our future. But economic development begins at home - and that's why the Assembly of First Nations has been working with Habitat for Humanity Canada to help address the shortage of adequate housing on First Nations land. We know that a 'one size fits all' approach will not work for our people, our communities and our governments. Each community has its own unique strengths and unique challenges. Habitat for Humanity Canada's Aboriginal Housing Program seeks to understand the distinct housing challenges faced by First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples, while providing homeownership solutions to families in communities across Canada through Habitat's proven no-down-payment, zero-interest model. The organization has already provided affordable homeownership to 35 Aboriginal families under this program, and has set the goal of serving 100 more over the next five years. Upon graduation, April heard that Habitat for Humanity Northumberland was looking to build a home in Alderville. She submitted her application - and it was accepted. Returning to her First Nations community enabled April to introduce Joshua to his heritage - he is now taking Ojibwe language classes, and is proud to call Alderville his home. But this is just one example. On April 19, 2012, Habitat for Humanity Canada's Yukon affiliate signed a partnership with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations to expand homeownership possibilities for low-income families on their settlement land. Located just outside Whitehorse, where the climate increases the importance of decent housing, the project represented a critical partnership between First Nations peoples, industry, and different members of civil society. These projects - and projects like them - offer needed assistance while allowing First Nations to retain control over their housing stock and strategy. Habitat for Humanity Canada likes to say it offers a hand up, not a hand out. In accepting this hand up, April Smoke was able to break the cycle of poverty and drastically improve the chances that Josh will lead a happy, healthy, and successful life. There are 35 stories like this across the country - and Habitat for Humanity Canada now plans on creating 100 more. Habitat for Humanity Canada is now looking forward to partnering up with a ready First Nation community to test this model on reserve. I encourage all First Nations across Canada to contact Habitat for Humanity Canada and be part of the story. Shawn A-in-chut Atleo is the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations and a member of Habitat for Humanity Canada's National Leadership Council. To learn more about the Aboriginal Housing Program and how your community can participate, please visit www.habitat.ca/ahp. Mon, 26 Nov 2012 15:25:26 -0500 Full article 1_145available at: www.habitat.ca When making a donation of time or money to a charitable organization, a common question is whether to invest in the lives of individuals, in the future prospects of families, or in the betterment of an entire community. What sometimes isn't as obvious though, is how far your contribution can in fact go to impact all three. The most immediate effects of an investment of time or money in affordable homeownership is on the family that receives the home: with more manageable shelter costs, they are able to save money, pay for nutritious food, afford to send their kids on to higher education, live healthier lives and escape the cycle of poverty. But good housing also attracts economic investment and development, thriving schools, safer communities and social stability. And with more healthy living conditions, families often end or reduce their dependency on social services such as housing subsidies and healthcare - instead contributing to their communities as payers of property tax. Despite this, survey results recently released by our National Leadership Council show that while 64 percent of Canadians believe housing will be less affordable in the future, few feel affordable housing is a problem in their community. I fear this shows that while Canadians see the warning signs, few fully appreciate the extent of housing need and impact affordable homeownership can have in communities across the country. In a recent blog post, we looked at the changing ability of renters to transition to homeowners over the past decades. We found that since 1969, the wealth of homeowners went from being 20 times greater than that of renters to a startling 70 times greater, and that during this time, the cost to purchase a home also outpaced inflation. Not surprisingly, homeownership rates have declined among Canada's lowest-income group, whereas the rate has increased among those who are higher-income. While renting was traditionally seen as an eventual bridge to homeownership, this reality is being challenged, and with shelter being the majority of Canadian's largest expense, and asset, not being able to access affordable homeownership is becoming the largest barrier to Canada's most vulnerable families getting ahead. For that reason, today, on National Housing Day, I strongly encourage you to consider donating your next dollar, or volunteering your next hour, to help a family move closer to homeownership. Affordable homeownership helps families break the cycle of poverty. It drastically increases the likelihood individuals will succeed. It has a direct impact on the communities where projects are undertaken. It is transformational, and long-lasting. As it becomes more difficult for low-income families to access homeownership, and for them and the surrounding community to reap the benefits this brings, it becomes more important that Canadians answer the call. It's to everyone's benefit. Thu, 22 Nov 2012 09:58:56 -0500 Full article 1_143available at: www.habitat.ca MISSISSAUGA, ONT. (November 19, 2012) - Habitat for Humanity is calling on all Canadians to visit their local Nissan dealer over the next month, as Nissan Canada has pledged a donation of $20 to local Habitat for Humanity projects for each test drive in order to help more low-income families access affordable homeownership and break the cycle of poverty. "Nissan Canada and its employees have been great supporters of Habitat's work in Canada for over five years," said Stewart Hardacre, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. "Their employees regularly help out on builds and they provide much-needed financial support to help cover hard costs such as land and building materials. We are extremely grateful for their support." As part of Nissan Canada's "Gift to You" holiday campaign, Nissan will also be donating an additional $5 to local Habitat affiliates for each new Facebook "like" they receive over the duration of the promotion, which ends December 24. Nationwide, Habitat for Humanity and Nissan Canada hope to generate $550,000 in total, which will help several more low-income families realize a safe and decent home they can afford. "Nissan and our employees have been proud supporters of Habitat for Humanity Canada for the past five years, helping build numerous homes for Canadian families from coast to coast," said Judy Wheeler, Director of Marketing, Nissan Canada Inc. "Everyone should be home for the holidays and with the funds raised through this campaign, we will ensure many more Canadians have a home to call their own this time next year." Visit www.nissangift.ca for more information on the campaign, Nissan vehicles, and the Nissan dealerships near you. About Habitat for Humanity Canada Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit organization working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. With the help of over 50,000 volunteers every year and 69 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, their mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to break the cycle of poverty in Canada and around the world. For more information, please visit www.habitat.ca. About Nissan Canada Nissan Canada Inc. (NCI) is the Canadian sales, marketing and distribution subsidiary of Nissan Motor Limited and Nissan North America, Inc. With offices in Vancouver (BC), Mississauga (ON), and Kirkland (QC), NCI directly employs 250 full-time staff. There are 180 independent Nissan dealerships and 30 Infiniti retailers across Canada. A pioneer in zero emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades including the prestigious 2011 European Car of the Year and World Car of the Year awards. More information about Nissan in Canada and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.nissan.ca and www.infiniti.ca. About Nissan Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 248,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4.8 million vehicles in 2011, generating revenue of 9.4 trillion yen ($118.95 billion US). With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of 64 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero-emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades, including the prestigious 2011-2012 Car of the Year Japan and 2011 World Car of the Year awards. For more information on our products, services and commitment to Sustainable Mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/. Thu, 22 Nov 2012 08:20:08 -0500 Full article 1_142available at: www.habitat.ca Today, the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, accompanied by Shelly Glover, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface, announced the renewal of a partnership between the Government of Canada and Habitat for Humanity Canada. Through an agreement among Public Safety, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) and Habitat for Humanity Canada, eligible federal offenders, such as those on parole, can work as supervised volunteers to help build homes for low-income working families and volunteer in Habitat ReStores across Canada. "Our Government is pleased to continue its partnership with Habitat for Humanity Canada," said Minister Toews. "Together, we are providing safe and affordable home ownership to low-income working families, while giving federal offenders the skills and experience they need to one day become productive members of society." "Habitat for Humanity Canada is proud to be partners with a Government that is creating positive change for low-income families who buy Habitat's affordable homes and for CSC offenders who want to give back to society," said Stewart Hardacre, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. "This partnership truly reflects Habitat's core belief that a 'hand up, not a hand out' gives people self-worth and an opportunity to improve their lives and the lives of their families." The Government of Canada is also providing $125,000 to a Ready to Move project at Rockwood Institution as part of a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Manitoba. Offenders are helping to build a Habitat for Humanity home at the institution, which will be moved to its final destination once completed. This project will give offenders important work and construction experience for approximately six to 10 months. "We are pleased to support Habitat for Humanity in its efforts in Winnipeg to find local solutions to local problems," said the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. "By investing in a project that provides offenders with hands-on work experience and training, we are doing our part to support offender rehabilitation." These partnerships are part of CORCAN, a key rehabilitation program of the Correctional Service of Canada that contributes to safe communities by providing employment training and work skills to offenders in federal penitentiaries and the community. See also: Backgrounder: Partnering with Habitat for Humanity Canada Follow Public Safety Canada (@Safety_Canada) on Twitter. For further information: Julie Carmichael Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Public Safety 613-991-2924 Media Relations Public Safety Canada 613-991-0657 Backgrounder Partnering with Habitat for Humanity Canada The Harper government has renewed a partnership among Public Safety, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) and Habitat for Humanity Canada. Under this agreement, federal offenders can work as supervised volunteers to help build homes for low-income working families, as well as volunteer in Habitat ReStores across Canada. The Government of Canada also announced $125,000 in funding for a Ready to Move project at Rockwood Institution where offenders are helping to build a Habitat for Humanity home at the institution, which will be moved to its final destination once completed. This project is being undertaken with the local affiliate, Habitat for Humanity Manitoba. Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit organization working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. With the help of over 50,000 volunteers every year and 69 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, their mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to break the cycle of poverty in Canada and around the world. Celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2012, Habitat for Humanity Manitoba has built over 250 homes throughout Manitoba since 1987. Their vision is to provide families with a foundation for positive change through affordable housing. These partnerships with Habitat for Humanity are part of CORCAN, a key rehabilitation program of the Correctional Service of Canada that provides employment training and work skills to federal offenders. CORCAN plays an important role in CSC's mandate to enhance public safety by providing offenders with the employment experience and skills they need to become productive members of society and to safely reintegrate into the community. Operating in 39 institutions across Canada, CORAN has four business lines: textiles, manufacturing, construction, and services (such as printing and laundry). For example, the CORCAN shop at Bowden Institution in Alberta builds kitchen cabinets, custom storage units and other pieces of furniture. Rockwood Institution in Manitoba has a shop where workers strip, disassemble, and recycle various components of Department of National Defence trucks. This is in addition to the construction shop at Rockwood Institution where houses are built as part of the partnership with Habitat for Humanity Manitoba. CORCAN shops operate as businesses as much as possible given their institutional setting, and strive for the most realistic work environment possible. Offenders in the program produce products and services that meet private sector norms and standards, and most shops are ISO-certified. Ce document d'information est aussi disponible en français Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:54:40 -0500 Full article 1_139available at: www.habitat.ca TORONTO, October 1, 2012 - Today, on World Habitat Day, Habitat for Humanity Canada's National Leadership Council released survey results showing that while 64 percent of Canadians believe housing will be less affordable in the future, few feel affordable housing is a problem in their community. According to Brett Marchand, National Leadership Council Chair, these results highlight the fact that although Canadians see the warning signs, few appreciate the extent of housing need across the country. "When housing costs are unmanageable, families are forced to make impossible choices to get by, such as whether they can afford to feed their children breakfast before school or keep the heat on at night," said Marchand. "A lack of affordable housing also restricts low-income families' ability to break the cycle of poverty, which increases the likelihood of long-term reliance on social services. Affordable housing is defined as a situation where housing costs - rent or mortgage payments and property taxes, and electricity, water, fuel and other municipal services - amount to less than 30 percent of a household's total before-tax income[i]. The survey found that households in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario were most at risk of exceeding this limit - provinces where Habitat for Humanity expects to cumulatively build upwards of 180 homes this year. Across Canada, Habitat for Humanity Canada has achieved significant milestones this year. In addition to it shaping up to be a record-breaking year when it comes to the number of affordable homes built nationwide, one of these projects was the organization's first on First Nations settlement land. As part of a five-year goal, the organization is determined to build 1,800 homes by 2016 - the same number it originally took 25 years to achieve. Among the survey's other findings: -35 per cent of Canadians bought fewer groceries due to sky-high housing costs - a figure that jumps to 46 percent in the Atlantic provinces. - More than 1 in 4 Canadians have put off paying bills in order to make rent. - 84 per cent of Canadians believe that the government should do more to address the issue of affordable housing. "It's important that Canadians understand that housing must stay affordable," Marchand continued. "We can't afford to believe that it's someone else's problem. The problem exists all around us, in every city and in every neighbourhood. Sometimes, it's right next door." About Habitat for Humanity Canada's National Leadership Council Habitat for Humanity Canada's National Leadership Council is a group of influential Canadians brought together by their belief that safe, decent, affordable housing is key to building stronger communities and therefore a stronger Canada. Together they are working to raise the profile of the affordable housing issue by acting as Habitat ambassadors locally and globally. Habitat for Humanity Canada welcomes these new members to the National Leadership Council: ·Dave Tuccaro, President, Tuccaro Inc. Group of Companies ·Dave Perkins, President & CEO, Molson Coors Canada ·Vi Konkle, President & CEO, The Brick Group ·Avi Kahn, President & General Manager, Hilti (Canada) Corporation A full list of Council members can be viewed at habitat.ca/showyoursupport. Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:28:44 -0500 Full article 1_140available at: www.habitat.ca Kingsey Falls, September 17, 2012 - Cascades is pleased to present its new cardboard playhouse for children, My Pretty Playhouse, made from 100% recycled cardboard. Cascades is also proud to announce its partnership with Habitat for Humanity, whose mission is to build houses with families in need of decent, affordable housing. For each playhouse sold until December 2013, Cascades will donate two dollars to Habitat for Humanity in Canada or the United States (depending on the country of purchase). Cascades has pledged to donate $25,000 to Habitat for Humanity in both Canada and the United States, for a total of $50,000 to help create a world where everyone has a decent place to live. "Since its creation 45 years ago, Cascades has always been involved with the community. It was only natural to partner with Habitat for Humanity, who offers direct assistance to families in need," explained Carl Blanchet, Corporate Director of Business Development at Cascades. In the coming months, a number of Cascades employees will roll up their sleeves for a day of volunteering on a Habitat for Humanity housing construction project. Small and Affordable The playhouse is part of the line of children's playhouses available at Boutique Cascades. The advantage of this playhouse is its small size and affordable price. It fits nicely into smaller areas such as apartments, condos and daycares. Designed for children three years and up, the playhouse is safe and easy to assemble, and can be recycled when no longer needed.This customizable playhouse will instantly be a favourite with the little ones, providing hours of entertainment and a place to draw and use their imaginations. What a great way to stimulate children's creativity and give mom a break! On Sale on the Web Starting September 17, 2012, the playhouse will be available online at Boutique Cascades, which offers over 30 eco-friendly products made from recycled fibres. For free delivery and to find out more about the playhouse, visit us at boutique.cascades.com. - 30 - Founded in 1964, Cascades produces, converts and markets packaging and tissue products that are composed mainly of recycled fibres. The Company employs more than 12,000 employees, who work in over 100 units located in North America and Europe. With its management philosophy, half a century of experience in recycling, and continuous efforts in research and development as driving forces, Cascades continues to serve its clients with innovative products. Cascades' shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol CAS. Thu, 1 Nov 2012 09:37:41 -0500 Full article 1_135available at: www.habitat.ca Habitat for Humanity Canada is pleased to announce that the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), as part of its commitment to support and build better communities across Ontario, has officially partnered with and will support building efforts throughout the Province of Ontario. MPAC's 1,700 employees will support Habitat for Humanity Canada through payroll deductions, jean days and team builds. The organization made their first donation of $6,500 on September 12 through monies raised by employees through a corporate-wide jeans day. "As responsible corporate citizens, giving something back to the communities that we serve and in which we live has always been a priority for us. We value properties and we all know how valuable homes are in our lives. The alignment between our two organizations could not be better," says MPAC's President and Chief Administrative Officer, Antoni Wisniowski. For more information on MPAC, visit their website at www.mpac.ca Thu, 1 Nov 2012 09:33:59 -0500 Full article 1_136available at: www.habitat.ca Whitehorse, YT - Today, Habitat for Humanity, the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, and representatives from the Assembly of First Nations began raising the walls on the 'First House' KųKàttheÄ'ą project - Habitat for Humanity's first affordable housing project on First Nations settlement land in Canada. The organization hopes this milestone project will lead to more Habitat homes being built in partnership with Canada's Aboriginal peoples. "The 'First House' Project is a critical step towards providing quality options to First Nation families and communities in need of affordable housing," said Assembly of First Nations National Chief, Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, a driver behind the partnership between the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and Habitat for Humanity Yukon. "Our hope is that partnerships like this will begin to benefit more First Nation families and communities right across the country." With the support of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Habitat for Humanity Canada launched its Aboriginal Housing Program as a pilot in 2007 to better understand how the Habitat homeownership model could be applied to serve Canada's Aboriginal families in need of affordable housing. Since, 34 families, mostly situated in urban areas, have realized safe, decent, and affordable Habitat homeownership, and the program's success had led to its permanent adoption by Habitat in Canada. Over the next five years, the organization is looking to expand its partnership with Aboriginal communities with hopes of serving more Aboriginal families on settlements and reserves. "Champagne and Aishihik First Nations is working closely with Habitat for Humanity Yukon to enable low-income families to own their own homes," said Champagne and Aishihik First Nations Chief, James Allen. "This partnership fits well with our government's ongoing work to promote healthy, self-reliant community members." Habitat for Humanity Canada's National Leadership Council, which includes Assembly of First Nations National Chief, Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, will put hammers to nails this week on the 'First House' project, an affordable triplex housing development being built in Takhini River, 50 kilometres west of Whitehorse. This group of business and political leaders is joining Habitat for Humanity Yukon and the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations in an effort to profile the impact homeownership can have on low-income families and how the Habitat homeownership model can be part of the overall Aboriginal housing solution. To learn more about the 'First House' project, who's partnering on the build and Habitat for Humanity Canada's Aboriginal Housing Program, visit www.habitat.ca/ahp. Leadership Build Week Photos Day 1: Work's cut out for the Leadership Build Week volunteers (© Gary Bremner 2012) National Leadership Council chair, Brett Marchand, raises an interior wall with the help of others (© Gary Bremner 2012) Overhead shot on the final day (© Gary Bremner 2012) l to r: Champagne and Aishihik First Nations Chief James Allen, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-in-Chut Atleo, Dave Tuccaro, President, Tuccaro Inc. Group of Companies (© Gary Bremner 2012) Leadership Build Week volunteers (© Gary Bremner 2012) About Habitat for Humanity Canada Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit organization working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. With the help of over 50,000 volunteers every year and 69 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, their mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to break the cycle of poverty in Canada and around the world. About Champagne & Aishihik First Nations The Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN) is a self-governing First Nation located in the southwest Yukon and northern British Columbia. CAFN's Constitutional right to govern its land, people and resources was confirmed with the signing of the CAFN Final Agreement with the governments of Canada and Yukon in 1993. Of the Yukon's fourteen First Nations, CAFN is one of the largest with a membership of more than 1,100 people. Its Traditional Territory covers 41,000 square kilometers, 29,000 of which are located in the Yukon and 12,000 in British Columbia. CAFN was named after two of its historic settlements: Champagne, located on the Dezadeash River; and Aishihik, situated at the headwaters of the Alsek River drainage. Formerly, the Southern Tutchone population was located throughout the region in seasonal villages. Today, CAFN has permanent communities in Haines Junction, Canyon, Champagne, Aishihik, Klukshu and Takhini River, and provides housing to about 118 families. About Habitat for Humanity Yukon Habitat for Humanity Yukon Societywas given official affiliate status in September 2004. Todd Hardy was a founding member and our first President. Habitat for Humanity-Yukon government partnerships in Whitehorse: 2006 - Single family unit, Kodiak Place, Copper Ridge 2010 - Duplex, Keewenaw Drive, Copper Ridge 2011 - Triplex, 810 Wheeler Street 2012 - Triplex, 15 Pintail Place, Ingram in progress Thu, 1 Nov 2012 09:29:57 -0500 Full article 1_137available at: www.habitat.ca TORONTO, October 1, 2012 - Today, on World Habitat Day, Habitat for Humanity Canada's National Leadership Council released survey results showing that while 64 percent of Canadians believe housing will be less affordable in the future, few feel affordable housing is a problem in their community. According to Brett Marchand, National Leadership Council Chair, these results highlight the fact that although Canadians see the warning signs, few appreciate the extent of housing need across the country. "When housing costs are unmanageable, families are forced to make impossible choices to get by, such as whether they can afford to feed their children breakfast before school or keep the heat on at night," said Marchand. "A lack of affordable housing also restricts low-income families' ability to break the cycle of poverty, which increases the likelihood of long-term reliance on social services. Affordable housing is defined as a situation where housing costs - rent or mortgage payments and property taxes, and electricity, water, fuel and other municipal services - amount to less than 30 percent of a household's total before-tax income[i]. The survey found that households in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario were most at risk of exceeding this limit - provinces where Habitat for Humanity expects to cumulatively build upwards of 180 homes this year. Across Canada, Habitat for Humanity Canada has achieved significant milestones this year. In addition to it shaping up to be a record-breaking year when it comes to the number of affordable homes built nationwide, one of these projects was the organization's first on First Nations settlement land. As part of a five-year goal, the organization is determined to build 1,800 homes by 2016 - the same number it originally took 25 years to achieve. Among the survey's other findings: -35 per cent of Canadians bought fewer groceries due to sky-high housing costs - a figure that jumps to 46 percent in the Atlantic provinces. - More than 1 in 4 Canadians have put off paying bills in order to make rent. - 84 per cent of Canadians believe that the government should do more to address the issue of affordable housing. "It's important that Canadians understand that housing must stay affordable," Marchand continued. "We can't afford to believe that it's someone else's problem. The problem exists all around us, in every city and in every neighbourhood. Sometimes, it's right next door." About Habitat for Humanity Canada's National Leadership Council Habitat for Humanity Canada's National Leadership Council is a group of influential Canadians brought together by their belief that safe, decent, affordable housing is key to building stronger communities and therefore a stronger Canada. Together they are working to raise the profile of the affordable housing issue by acting as Habitat ambassadors locally and globally. Habitat for Humanity Canada welcomes these new members to the National Leadership Council: ·Dave Tuccaro, President, Tuccaro Inc. Group of Companies ·Dave Perkins, President & CEO, Molson Coors Canada ·Vi Konkle, President & CEO, The Brick Group ·Avi Kahn, President & General Manager, Hilti (Canada) Corporation A full list of Council members can be viewed at habitat.ca/showyoursupport. About Habitat for Humanity Canada Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit organization working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. With the help of over 50,000 volunteers every year and 69 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, their mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to break the cycle of poverty in Canada and around the world. For more information on Habitat for Humanity Canada, please visit www.habitat.ca. About the Survey From May 10th 2012 to May 11th an online survey was conducted among 1,005 randomly selected Canadian adults who are on the Angus Reid Forum. The margin of error is +/- 3.01%, or 19 times out of 20. A second study ran from May 30th to May 31st 2012 among 1503 Canadian adults who are also Angus Reid Forum panel members. The margin of error is +/- 2.43%. The results for both studies have been statistically weighted according to age, gender, region and education (and language in Quebec) to ensure a sample representative of the entire population of Canada. [1] The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Mon, 1 Oct 2012 12:25:35 -0500 Full article 1_138available at: www.habitat.ca Accra, Ghana, October 1, 2012 — Habitat for Humanity Canada, Habitat for Humanity International (collectively "Habitat") and The MasterCard Foundation today announced the launch of a $6.6 million, five-year partnership to expand microfinance services to maintain and improve homes for disadvantaged families in three African countries. An estimated 1.6 billion people live in sub-standard shelter around the world, a circumstance that is compounded by dysfunctional formal housing markets that rarely include services for low-income populations. Developer-built, bank-financed homes are rare in Africa, typically serving far fewer than five percent of households in most African countries. The Habitat and The MasterCard Foundation partnership will reach people in Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda who cannot access formal financial institutions. It will build the capacity of nine local financial institutions already serving the poor to diversify their products to meet shelter-related needs. Financial institutions will offer a bundled package of financial and housing support services, a unique approach that will be tested for scale and growth. "In the last 30 years, small-scale financial services have helped millions of people increase their food security, educate their children, grow their businesses and build their assets," said Stewart Hardacre, President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. "Making microfinance loans more accessible for housing will further transform lives and help families build the foundation for a better future." The launch of this project coincides with World Habitat Day, an annual event designated by the United Nations as a day to draw attention to the systems, policies, and attitudes that lead to poverty housing, and to involve partners in solutions. Having completed over 2,000 Habitat homes for Canadian families, Habitat for Humanity affiliates nationwide will also use World Habitat Day to bring attention to affordable housing need in their communities. "Housing microfinance is an innovative approach to respond to the basic needs of people living in poverty," said Reeta Roy, President and CEO of The MasterCard Foundation. "This project will generate insights and enable microfinance institutions to offer relevant products and services to the families they serve." The project will also emphasize learning and dissemination of emerging promising practices. Together with potential housing microfinance lenders, Habitat and The MasterCard Foundation will engage finance institutions and forums to address the challenge of building replicable scalable models. It will also address the needs for borrower education, housing support services to promote sound housing development, and the general understanding of housing microfinance by lenders. The program will begin in Ghana, with Uganda and Kenya to follow in 2013. -30- About The MasterCard Foundation The MasterCard Foundation advances microfinance and youth learning to promote financial inclusion and prosperity. Through collaboration with committed partners in over 48 developing countries, it is helping people living in poverty to access opportunities to learn and prosper. Based in Toronto, Canada, the Foundation was established through the generosity of MasterCard Worldwide at the time of the company's initial public offering in 2006. It operates independently of MasterCard Worldwide. For more information, visit http://mastercardfdn.org. About Habitat for Humanity Canada Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit organization working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. With the help of over 50,000 volunteers every year and 69 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, their mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to break the cycle of poverty in Canada and around the world. The organization is a member of Habitat for Humanity International, which has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 500,000 houses worldwide, providing shelter for more than 2 million people. For more information, please visit www.habitat.ca. Mon, 1 Oct 2012 09:42:56 -0500 Full article 1_123available at: www.habitat.ca April is eager to expose Josh to the rich history of their people and has enrolled them both in Ojibwe language classes The beat of traditional drums at the dedication ceremony for her new home drew tears from April Smoke—and enthusiastic applause from her five-year-old son, Josh. The house was the first ever built by Habitat for Humanity in a First Nations community, giving April and Josh the opportunity to live securely and stay connected to their cultural roots. April's family had struggled with a cycle of poverty that she was determined to break. She moved to Windsor, Ontario to pursue post-secondary studies—500 kilometres from the Alderville reserve where she grew up. While she knew education was an important investment, the expense was a strain: all she could afford was a crowded house in an unsafe neighbourhood. Shortly after graduating, she heard Habitat for Humanity was looking to build in Alderville. Within four months of submitting her application she moved into a new home with her son, mother and brother. April says the house was truly a community effort. "I was surprised by everyone's generosity," she remarks. "People I didn't even know were coming out and lending a hand on the build site. I feel such a strong sense of belonging." An important part of that belonging has to do with her Ojibwe heritage. April is eager to expose Josh to the rich history of their people and has enrolled them both in Ojibwe language classes. "We Josh's home offers a whole new world to explore haven't lived here that long and he's already starting to understand that he's part of this culture. Seeing him excited about it is really rewarding," April says. She's also happy that Josh has a place he can truly call home. Growing up in a single-parent family, she herself moved around a lot. "I wanted to plant roots and give Josh a life he could be proud of," she says. April concludes that perhaps her happiest moment came when she overheard Josh tell someone that for his fifth birthday she was building him a house. Mon, 1 Oct 2012 09:41:44 -0500 Full article 1_133available at: www.habitat.ca Congratulations to The Honourable Julian Fantino on his recent appointment as Minister of International Cooperation. Today, Habitat for Humanity Canada is partnering with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to rebuild Haiti, helping improve the living conditions of some of the Western Hemisphere's poorest slum dwellers. The first and soon to be completed Habitat for Humanity Canada recovery project is primarily focused on repairs and retrofits to existing houses damaged by the January 2010 earthquake. Slum residents are being trained in construction techniques so that they can assist professionals in the repairs of their own homes. This is also providing men and women with job skills for their future livelihood and the nation's microenterprise development. Habitat for Humanity Canada is pleased that the success of this project has led to CIDA's support of a second outcomes-based project in Haiti, focusing on expanding the training outcomes achieved previously. Although Habitat for Humanity Canada's partnership with CIDA only dates back to 2007, staff look forward to many more years of partnership, working with Julian Fantino's team of dedicated development professionals around the world. Read more about Habitat for Humanity Canada's recovery work in Haiti. Sun, 22 Jul 2012 20:25:23 -0500 Full article 1_124available at: www.habitat.ca Donate Your Pennies to Your Local Affiliate Office or ReStore: Find Your Nearest ReStore Find Your Nearest Affiliate Office TORONTO, April 2, 1012 - Habitat for Humanity is collecting pennies from across Canada to fund the building of 69 more Habitat homes this year, one home for each of its local affiliates. This announcement comes days after the Federal Government's decision to discontinue production of the one-cent piece, and its suggestion that citizens donate their extra coins to charity. Each of the 69 regional Habitat affiliates across Canada is attempting to collect ten million pennies, equaling $100,000, or the average cost of the materials needed to build one safe, decent and affordable Habitat home. The ultimate goal of the campaign is to collect a total of 690 million pennies in order to help each of Habitat's Canadian affiliates give the hand up of homeownership to one more low-income family. "We are very excited to kick-off this nationwide campaign," said Stewart Hardacre, President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. "Through the simple donation of spare pennies, more low-income Canadians will gain access to homeownership that is affordable, igniting a transformation within families that will last for generations to come." As part of this national initiative, Habitat for Humanity affiliate offices and ReStores, building supply and home decor stores run by local Habitat affiliates, will be accepting penny donations. Visit www.habitat.cato find the affiliate office or ReStore nearest you. Contact Habitat in your community to confirm hours of operation and drop off times. In Canada, Habitat has given the hand up of affordable homeownership to over 2,000 families since 1985. Habitat homes are sold to low-income families through interest-free mortgages with no down payment required, allowing families to break the cycle of poverty. - 30 - About Local Affiliate Offices: Habitat for Humanity Canada's mission is carried out by 69 affiliates in ten provinces and two territories. These affiliates select partner families for homeownership, provide them with support, manage the building of Habitat homes, and work closely with volunteers and partners at the community level. Affiliates also coordinate events and activities designed to raise funds for the cause and awareness of the need for affordable housing. About Habitat for Humanity Canada: Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit organization working for a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. With the help of over 50,000 volunteers every year and 69 affiliated organizations from coast to coast, their mission is to break the cycle of poverty through affordable housing and the promotion of homeownership. Visitwww.habitat.cato learn more. Contact: Kate Marshall Director, Marketing & Communications Habitat for Humanity Canada (416) 644-0988 x320 kmarshall@habitat.ca Tue, 5 Jun 2012 16:49:26 -0500 Full article 1_128available at: www.habitat.ca Spring is here, and summer is shortly upon us. What better way to show your appreciation for everything green than by using more eco-friendly products for your home? There are simple energy saving tips that everyone should put into practice, like turning off lights when leaving a room, opening curtains during the day to use natural light instead of artificial, and to only use dishwashers or washing machines when they're fully loaded. But there are many other practices you can follow to go green this summer: Make the bright decision You would be surprised by how much money you can save by switching to energy efficient light bulbs. A traditional incandescent bulb can cost $350 annually to operate, while a similar fluorescent bulb would only cost $80 - that's a savings of $270 a year! Visit the Green Home Guide here to learn more about the energy saving light bulbs you can purchase for your home. Backyard patio makeover If your backyard patio needs a makeover, but you don't want to spend a lot on upgrades, then check out the Habitat for Humanity ReStore nearest you. You may find that perfect piece to upgrade your patio at less than half the cost, and by shopping at a ReStore, where the majority merchandise is end-of-line products and customer returns, you'll also be helping divert unnecessary waste from landfill. In fact, it's estimated that ReStores across Canada have diverted134,000 tons of waste from landfill since 1998. There are 74 ReStore locations across Canada, find the location nearest you. Those are some cool windows Many window manufacturers, like long-time Habitat supporter All Weather Windows, have special windows with a Low-E glass coating, which keeps your home cool on hot summer days. This feature is great if you don't have air conditioning in your home or if you want to save some money on your energy bill. This is also a great option if you're already planning to replace windows in your home. Check out All Weather Windowsonline for more. Mon, 4 Jun 2012 13:12:00 -0500 Full article 1_122available at: www.habitat.ca Recognizing the need for sustainable housing for Aboriginal Canadian families, CMHC and Habitat for Humanity Canada formed their partnership in 2007 to launch Habitat for Humanity's Aboriginal Housing Program. The goal of this program is to help Habitat for Humanity's affiliates across Canada make the Habitat homeownership model available to more Aboriginal families, both on- and off-reserve. Mon, 4 Jun 2012 12:54:11 -0500 Full article 1_126available at: www.habitat.ca REGINA, SK, May 11, 2012 — Today, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) presented Habitat for Humanity Edmonton with the CMHC Award for Outstanding Contribution to Habitat for Humanity Aboriginal Housing. The award was presented at Habitat for Humanity Canada's National Conference Awards Gala. Habitat affiliates from across Canada are in Regina this weekend for their annual general meeting and national conference. "I want to offer my congratulations and say thank you to Habitat for Humanity Edmonton for its ongoing efforts in creating opportunities for Aboriginal families through homeownership," said the Honourable Pamela Wallin, Senator, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for CMHC. "CMHC, on behalf of the Government of Canada, is proud to work with Habitat for Humanity Canada and its affiliates right across Canada to help address the challenges many families face in finding safe, decent and affordable homes both on-and off-reserve." Habitat for Humanity Edmonton was chosen as this year's award recipient for its role in helping to achieve the dream of homeownership for Aboriginal families in the Edmonton area. Their exemplary partnership project with Metis Capital Housing Corporation to retrofit existing rental housing for affordable homeownership has inspired other Aboriginal housing groups to emulate the partnership model. As well, for the first time eight Metis families at Elizabeth Metis Settlements near Cold Lake, Alberta will become homeowners in 2012 as a result of an agreement signed between Habitat for Humanity Edmonton and Elizabeth Metis Settlement. The Habitat for Humanity Awards Committee considered a number of key areas in the selection of the winner for this award including innovative solutions to challenges faced in Aboriginal housing development; association and community collaboration on Aboriginal housing development; number of Aboriginal families served; and number of major renovations, including energy efficiencies, to Aboriginal housing. "Habitat for Humanity Canada and its affiliates are very excited to partner on Aboriginal projects across Canada where possible. We also very much appreciate CMHC's partnership in this important work," said Stewart Hardacre, President & CEO, Habitat for Humanity Canada. "This year we're proud to recognize the leadership role Habitat for Humanity Edmonton has taken in building affordable housing in partnership with Aboriginal groups in their region."Habitat for Humanity Canada Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada (HFHC) is a national, non-profit organization working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. With the help of over 50,000 volunteers every year and 69affiliate organizations from coast to coast, their mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to break the cycle of poverty in Canada and around the world. For more information on HFHC, please visit www.habitat.ca. CMHC CMHC is the Lead and Founding National Partner for Habitat Canada's Aboriginal Housing Program, which seeks to increase the number of Habitat homes built for Aboriginal families both on- and off-reserve. This partnership contributes to CMHC's ongoing efforts to improve access to affordable Aboriginal housing, which includes investing directly in new affordable housing, housing renovation, housing capacity development and supporting the First Nations Market Housing Fund. CMHC has been Canada's national housing agency for more than 65 years. CMHC is committed to helping Canadians access a wide choice of quality, environmentally sustainable, affordable housing solutions, while making vibrant, healthy communities and cities a reality across the country. Media please contact: Kimberlee Jones CMHC — Prairies and Territories Region 403-515-3048 Charles Sauriol CMHC Media Relations 613-748-2799 Kate Marshall National Director of Marketing & Communications Habitat for Humanity Canada 416-294-3039 Thu, 17 May 2012 14:32:28 -0500 Full article 1_125available at: www.habitat.ca (Regina) May 11- Today, Habitat for Humanity Canada presented Carl Ryan with the fourth-annual Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life National Award for Leadership in Sustainable and Affordable Home Buildingat its Annual General Meeting in Regina. Carl Ryan is the Board Chair of Habitat for Humanity Niagara, and has been instrumental in instituting and advancing recognized sustainable building practices[1]over his eight years as a volunteer with the organization. The award was created in 2009 to encourage and inspire more individuals to champion the issue of affordable homeownership in their community. It was also designed to encourage the adoption of sustainable building practices to address "energy poverty" - an affordability issue many households face in the wake of increasing utility costs. The annual award provides $25,000 to a Habitat for Humanity volunteer in Canada for direction toward a Habitat for Humanity affiliate for a sustainable building project. "Homeownership provides a multitude of personal and community benefits and yet, for manylow-income families, rising utility costs are an extra financial challenge,"said Jan Belanger, Assistant Vice-President,Community Affairs, Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life. "Our hope is that this award encourages individuals like Carl to actively support and engage in affordable and sustainable home building as a means to help Canadians break the 'energy poverty' cycle." Carl Ryan has been a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Niagara since 2004, and is currently serving as its Board Chair. In those eight years, Carl has been involved in many facets of Habitat for Humanity Niagara, having a transformational impact on the organization. Through his leadership and tireless work with volunteers, local corporations and as a member of the Niagara Home Builders Association and the Niagara Construction Association, he has directly supported the building of 17 sustainable houses and, more importantly, has provided valuable strategic leadership, positioning Habitat Niagara well for continued success moving forward. "It's through the hard work of people like Carl Ryan that Habitat for Humanity is able to provide the hand up of affordable and sustainable homeownership to so many low-income families," said Stewart Hardacre, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. "We are honored to recognize Carl with this award, and thank him for his unwavering commitment and passion." Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life, along with their staff and distribution associates, have a long history of supporting Habitat for Humanity Canada, sponsoring multiple builds and contributing hundreds of volunteer hours. In 2009, Great-West Life and its subsidiaries made a five-year commitment of $250,000 to create and support this award program. About Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life: Great-West Life is a leading Canadian insurer which, together with its subsidiaries, London Life and Canada Life, serves the financial security needs of more than 12 million people across Canada. As an Imagine Caring Company, Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life donate a minimum of one per cent of average pre-tax profits to non-profit, charitable and community organizations each year. About Habitat for Humanity Canada: Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit organization working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. With the help of over 50,000 volunteers every year and 69 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, their mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to break the cycle of poverty in Canada and around the world. For more information on Habitat for Humanity Canada, please visit www.habitat.ca. -30- For more information, please contact: Kate Marshall National Director, Marketing & Communications Habitat for Humanity Canada (416) 294-3039 kmarshall@habitat.ca Marlene Klassen Assistant Vice-President, Communication Services Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life (204) 946-7705 marlene.klassen@gwl.ca [1] Definition of Sustainable Building Practice as it applies to Habitat for Humanity (HFH): When considering "sustainability" one thinks of exploiting natural resources without destroying the ecological balance of an area. To HFH, Sustainable Building Practices also take into consideration enhanced Energy Efficiency, aligning with locally recognized initiatives/programs and limiting the environmental impact of the house during construction and after occupancy. At the same time, HFH makes a concerted effort to maintain true affordability for the organization during construction and for the Partner Family once they occupy the dwelling. Thu, 17 May 2012 14:26:39 -0500 Full article 1_121available at: www.habitat.ca A group of fathers and their daughters from Regina and Calgary were in El Salvador recently as part of a Habitat for Humanity mission. Photo courtesy Nicole Stefan. Photograph by: Nicole Stefan While breaking down concrete with pickaxes, shovelling out dirt to make trenches, mixing concrete with shovels, carrying five-gallon buckets of water and concrete and lifting bricks, Mark Stefan and his daughter Nicole bonded. It seems like an uncommon father-daughter bonding activity, and indeed it is. From Feb. 17-25, the Stefans were among six father-daughter duos that travelled to El Salvador and started building a home in the municipality of San Vicente. The trip was run through Habitat for Humanity's Global Village program, and the organization notes the father-daughter twist had never been done before. "It just kinda solidified how close we actually are," says Nicole, 20, a University of Regina arts education student. "My No. 1 thing I learned about my dad is he is so hardworking. I've always known my dad was hardworking, but it was more in the office situation. Just seeing him with a pickaxe just giving 'er was unbelievable." Five of the father-daughter pairs came from Regina, with the remaining residing in Calgary. Each person had to raise around $2,500 to go on the trip. "You can't replace the 10 days that we spent with each other. It's just an excellent opportunity to get to know each other even better than you did before," says Mark, 50, an investment adviser with RBC Dominion Securities. A nearly completed Global Village volunteer-built home in El Salvador "I knew it before, but it showed how mature she is, how balanced an individual she is. Just those fundamental things: her humility, her desire to help others. She's young and has got all kinds of great ideas." The group stayed at a type of bed and breakfast during the trip. Supported by a mason and his two assistants, they worked eight-hour days to help build a house for a woman named Maria, who was living in a tin shack with dirt floors, no roof and an outdoor sink. There were no power tools available. "The phrase I've been using is that it was psychically exhausting, but emotionally invigorating," Mark says. Nicole had previously gone on a humanitarian trip to Tijuana, Mexico, while Mark had always wanted to go on such a venture. It was the first experience like this they could share together. When they weren't working, they had a chance to be a part of the community and bond with the fellow members of the trip, some of whom they already knew. Dennis Coutts, CEO for Habitat for Humanity Regina Inc., hopes the project can expand nationally and internationally and add more participants in the future. For Mark and Nicole, it was an experience they'll never forget and one they'd like to repeat in the future. During a layover on the return home, the two spent two hours walking around the airport and talking about their experience. "My one comment when people ask, 'How was your trip?' is 'You can't describe it,'" Nicole says. "You can't describe the heat, the hard work and the people that you meet. You have to go." Reprinted with permission Fri, 11 May 2012 12:51:04 -0500 Full article 1_119available at: www.habitat.ca In the 1920s and 1930s, the Cotton Club in Harlem was the place to be for New York City's most prominent jazz musicians. Jazz greats Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway served as the club's band leaders. Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Josephine Baker are among the legendary talent who were reported to have performed at the club. It even inspired the 1984 Francis Ford Coppola film The Cotton Club, starring Richard Gere, and was quite the hot spot for nearly two decades until it closed for good in 1940. Twelve years after the closing of the Cotton Club, a well-connected Washington, DC real estate agent was looking to turn a room in her home at 22nd and P Streets into an elegant gathering place. Mrs. Smith envisioned poetry readings and music there and hired a designer from New York City who had worked at the Cotton Club to design the room. Her nephew's friend, Sherman Harris, remembers the designer coming down from New York City and spending a week transforming the room. One of the pieces the designer installed was a piano that he told them had been played at the Cotton Club and sold at auction when the club closed. After staying there for some time, the piano ended up being given to Sherman after Smith passed away. "My children were young at that time and they used it all through high school and college," said Sherman. Sherman says he was hesitant to donate the piano due to his fond memories, but when his son suggested donating it to Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County's ReStore, he agreed. "I just hope someone else will get the joy from it that my family did," he said. Credit: Habitat for Humanity Montgomery County, Maryland, Inc. Fri, 11 May 2012 12:49:43 -0500 Full article 1_117available at: www.habitat.ca A 10-year-old Ethiopian-born girl who won a national writing contest about the meaning of "home" will direct a $60,000 grant from the contest sponsor to the local Habitat for Humanity building project of her choice. Edelawit ("Edie") Schnell, a Grade four student who lives with her adopted family in Calgary, had her essay chosen from over 3,200 entries as the winner of the 5th annual Genworth Canada 'Meaning of Home' writing contest. The contest is open to fourth, fifth and sixth Grade students from across Canada. Edie wrote a touching account of her life in Ethiopia, where she was responsible for helping run her home and could not attend school. Edie's mother sent her to Canada for a better life, and her essay compares experiences in both homes. "At the end of the day I would use the [river] water to make dinner. My Birth Mom told me she was sending me to a place where they would take better care of me…Now I am in a perfect school with friends…Water comes from a tap and I know it is clean…home is different to me than to a lot of other kids …Sometimes things in life can be hard but having a good home can make a difference." As this year's winner, Edie selected Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta as the affiliate of her choice to receive the $60,000 project grant. And for the first time this year, Genworth Canada donated five dollars per entry, so every participating student helped make a difference. "I never cease to be amazed by the quality of writing and the emotions expressed in the essays we receive," said Brian Hurley, Chairman and CEO, Genworth Canada. "Through simple and honest words, these young Canadians remind us of the importance of home and a family's love in their lives." Genworth Canada established the Meaning of Home contest in 2007 to raise awareness among Canada's youth of the importance of having a safe and secure home. Since 2007, the contest has resulted in more than $450,000 being donated by Genworth Canada to more than 30 Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Canada. "Edie's essay is an inspiration, she truly knows the value of a good home," said Stewart Hardacre, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. "We are thrilled to see more children responding to this contest with such heartfelt entries each year, and are thankful to Genworth Canadaand the many teachers, parents and associations that make this contest possible." The five runners-up in this year's essay contest, each of whom selects a Habitat affiliate to receive a $5000 grant, are: ·Jacob Frigault from Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Quebec ·Sofia Vavaroutsos from Woodbridge, Ontario ·Kate Barkhouse from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia ·Caitlin Sankaran-Wee from Vancouver, British Columbia ·Katie McDonald from Wellesley, Ontario The winning entry and runners-up were chosen from a list of 24 semi-finalists. To celebrate this year's anniversary of the Meaning of Home contest, Genworth Canada and Habitat for Humanity Canada have published a commemorative book of winning and finalist entries from the last five years. You can order your Meaning of Home book here. All proceeds from book sales will also be donated to Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Canada. To read this year's winning entries or find out more about how to enter next year's contest, visit www.MeaningofHome.ca. About Genworth Canada: Genworth Canada is the brand name of Genworth Financial Mortgage Insurance Company Canada, a subsidiary of Genworth MI Canada Inc. (TSX:MIC), and has been the leading Canadian private residential mortgage insurer since 1995. Known as "The Homeownership Company", it provides default mortgage insurance to Canadian residential mortgage lenders that enables low down payment borrowers to own a home more affordably and stay in their homes during difficult financial times. Genworth Canada combines technological and service excellence with risk management expertise to deliver innovation to the mortgage marketplace. As of September 30, 2011, Genworth Canada had $5.4 billion in total assets and $2.7 billion in shareholders' equity. Based in Oakville, Ontario, the Company employs approximately 265 people across Canada. Additional information about Genworth Canada is available at www.genworth.ca. Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:53:39 -0500 Full article 1_23available at: www.habitat.ca Read our World Habitat Day Globe and Mail insert In Canada, 1.5 million families are in need of safe, decent and affordable shelter right now. Internationally, the need is even greater. World Habitat Day is a time to reflect on the world's housing crisis and consider how our towns and cities are performing relative to the basic right to adequate shelter for all. This year we at Habitat for Humanity Canada have chosen the theme Inspiring Every Canadian to Act in order to highlight everyone's potential for creating meaningful change. Consider this about Canada's housing situation: 12.7 percent of Canadian households are in core housing need, meaning that their housing falls below at least one of the adequacy, affordability or suitability standards Federal support of affordable housing has been in decline in recent years. Responsibilities have been shifted to the provinces, which have in turn offloaded them on municipalities, most of which lack the tax base and budgets to support significant housing initiatives In March 2010, Miloon Kothari, the United Nations' special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, released a report that found Canada to be in urgent need of a "comprehensive and coordinated national housing policy" Of the countries that make up the G8, Canada is the only one that lacks a national housing strategy 17% of Canada's energy is consumed heating, cooling and powering our 13 million homes How Habitat for Humanity Helps In Canada: We've provided over 2,000 families with affordable homeownership We work with volunteers and community partners in over 300 communities nationwide We recognize that resources are finite, and energy costs can be a financial burden to homeowners, so 50% of our homes built last year were constructed to recognized green building standards, each being 25-30% more energy efficient, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 2.5 Cubic Meters each year On World Habitat Day: In addition to hosting events in many communities where Habitat for Humanity is active around the world, we dedicated our 500,000th house built or rehabilitated around the world in Maai Mahiu, Kenya Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:20:30 -0500 Full article 1_120available at: www.habitat.ca The volunteers who joined former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in Haiti on Nov. 5-12, 2011, built far more than houses. The hope for a new life continues to build among the Haitian families who worked beside the volunteers. These families lost nearly everything in the earthquake, but they are strong and resilient, and are ready to help themselves and their neighbors rebuild. At the end of the 28th Carter Work Project, 100 safe, decent new homes now stand in the Santo community in Leogâne. In total, 500 Habitat homes will be built there. Canadian volunteers from across Canada, including members of Habitat for Humanity Canada's National Leadership Council, were among the 500 volunteers that took part. Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:45:24 -0500 Full article 1_56available at: www.habitat.ca On March 2nd, the Government of Canada announced its commitment of almost $1.3 million to support Habitat for Humanity Canada's (HFHC) rebuilding projects in Simon Pele, a low-income, high density, earthquake-affected area of Port-au-Prince. With this financial support, HFHC plans to repair 175 homes and install 100 sanitation facilities. This will involve the training of local residents at a Habitat Resource Centre in repair and reconstruction techniques, employing and empowering Haitians in an area with high unemployment. As well, with this funding, HFHC plans to provide primary health care clinics to the community, educating 10,000 community members on major health issues, immunizing 100 pregnant women and 900 children, and providing health supplies to 3,000 households and two schools. This component of the relief effort will be delivered under the direction of HFHC by Rayjon ShareCare, a Canadian NGO that has been working in Haiti for 25 years. The Government of Canada provides funding for this initiative through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The State of Haiti, a Year Later The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck the Caribbean nation on January 12th, 2010 just 10 miles west of the capital, Port-au-Prince, damaged nearly 190,000 houses. Just over a year later, one million survivors are still displaced. Afraid to return to their homes, they are suffering severe overcrowding, health and security risks. Yet the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications' (MTPTC) initial Building Habitability Assessments indicate that nearly 80% of damaged homes can be safely repaired and/or retrofitted while being strengthened in order to be able to withstand future disasters. Simon Pele was suggested to HFHC as a community of focus by Habitat for Humanity Haiti following a request from the United Nations Shelter Cluster to consider developing a neighbourhood program there, as it was not previously being served by any other shelter organization. Make a donation toward this project. Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:48:24 -0500 Full article 1_114available at: www.habitat.ca In order to increase the level of support that Habitat for Humanity is able to provide in several Alberta communities, the organization's Brooks District, Calgary, Medicine Hat and Mountain View affiliates have undergone a formal merger, following approval by all affiliates' board of directors. Effective January 1, 2012, the four affiliates combined resources and staff under the new name Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta. "Partnering with Habitat for Humanity becomes a life-altering event for a family, providing security, stability and a more promising future for generations to come," says Leslie Tamagi, President & CEO, Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta. "Now, we will be able to partner with more communities, build more homes and ultimately serve more families." The decision to merge was reached after months of discussion and due diligence, following which the four affiliates concluded that by streamlining operations and consolidating expenses, they would be able to have a greater impact in the region. Ultimately, this will mean that more low-income Southern Alberta families will have the opportunity to receive the hand-up of a home they can afford. With the merger, administrative resources are being centralized out of the Calgary office. The intent is to have a Habitat for Humanity Chapter in each of Brooks, Mountain View, and Medicine Hat, which will continue to be run by local volunteers and conduct activities such as fundraising, volunteer engagement, and partner family recruitment and support locally. With greater operational efficiencies, volunteers and staff will be able to devote more time and effort to addressing housing need in each of these regions of Southern Alberta. "In the past we have witnessed great things when our affiliates partner and collaborate," said Stewart Hardacre, President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. "And with the affordable housing crisis that is facing our nation, as an organization we must be determined to do everything we can that will lead to more low-income families realizing a safe and decent home they can afford. "By consolidating resources and operational activities, the new affiliate can better leverage shared resources, ultimately enabling the organization to deliver more homes and more hope to local families in need of safe, decent and affordable housing. It is a wonderful opportunity to improve upon the already great work of Habitat for Humanity. For more information, visit www.habitatsouthernab.ca. About Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta is a non-profit organization working for a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. Our mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty. Consisting of Chapter affiliates from Brooks, Calgary, Medicine Hat, and Mountain View, Habitat Southern Alberta is a member of Habitat for Humanity Canada, and part of a worldwide network that spans 93 countries, which has built over 500,000 homes. Locally, Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta has served more than 130 families, building more than 130 homes. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:15:47 -0500 Full article 1_116available at: www.habitat.ca In a unique partnership, Habitat for Humanity, CMHC and the Metis Capital Housing Corporation are coming together to repair and rebuild housing stock for Metis families in Edmonton Read more about our Aboriginal Housing Program Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:16:24 -0500 Full article 1_111available at: www.habitat.ca Stewart Hardacre and Shawn A-in-chut Atleo signing the collaboration agreement, set to increase First Nations' involvement in Habitat projects and enhance opportunities for First Nations people, while adding to the housing stock (OTTAWA, ON) December 6, 2011 -Today, Habitat for Humanity Canada and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) join forces to improve housing in First Nations communities. Together, Habitat for Humanity Canada and AFN will collaborate to increase First Nations' involvement in Habitat projects and enhance opportunities for First Nations people to further their knowledge and skills applicable to all dimensions of housing, while adding to the housing stock. Habitat for Humanity Canada's president and CEO, Stewart Hardacre and First Nations National Chief, Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, will sign the official statement of partnership in Ottawa later today. "I thank Habitat for Humanity Canada for inviting AFN to this partnership," said Assembly of First Nations National Chief, Shawn A-in-chut Atleo. "This will enhance First Nations' ability to explore new options to satisfy its housing needs. It sends a clear message to the Canadian public and Government of Canada that we are open to engaging with other partners to satisfy our needs and priorities. Creating safer and healthier First Nations' communities is one of our biggest challenges as First Nations leaders. We hope that this will be the catalyst to spur on other organizations, corporations and individuals to get involved with First Nations." As part of the partnership, Habitat for Humanity Canada and AFN will establish a committee dedicated to overseeing and assessing the effectiveness of the work to be carried out under the new partnership agreement. The committee will be co-chaired by one representative of AFN and one representative of Habitat for Humanity Canada. "Habitat for Humanity Canada and our affiliate partners are committed to working with the Assembly of First Nations to implement solutions that will address the housing needs of Canada's First Nations population," said Stewart Hardacre, President and CEO, Habitat for Humanity Canada. "Aboriginal Housing is a priority for HFHC over the next five years, so we look forward to partnering with AFN to affect change in more communities across Canada." Habitat for Humanity Canada affiliates in Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario have built over 35 Habitat homes as part of Habitat's Aboriginal Housing Program. Habitat for Humanity Canada's commitment to Aboriginal Housing is long-standing and solidified by this partnership. AFN National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo is also a member of Habitat for Humanity Canada's National Leadership Council, which launched on November 22nd, to help build partnerships with key aboriginal communities in core housing need, corporate and individual partners also. Through Habitat for Humanity's 'Build-Buy-Reinvest' model, the organization will continue to partner with aboriginal communities across Canada to provide safe, decent and affordable housing to Canada's First Nations' people. About Assembly of First Nations: The Assembly of First Nation is the national organization representing First Nation citizens in Canada. Follow AFN on Twitter @NCAtleo, @AFN_Comms, @AFN_Updates. About Habitat for Humanity Canada: Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit organization working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. With the help of over 300,000 volunteers every year and 72 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, their mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to break the cycle of poverty. -30- For more information please contact: Alain Garon, AFN Bilingual Communications Officer(613) 292-0857, agaron@afn.ca Jenna Young, AFN Communications Officer(613) 314-8157, jyoung@afn.ca Kate Marshall, National Director Marketing & Communications, HFHC, (416) 294-3039, kmarshall@habitat.ca Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:38:33 -0500 Full article 1_112available at: www.habitat.ca Habitat for Humanity is pleased to announce Pi-Lin Vuong of Toronto as a top finalist in its 2011 Habitat World photo contest. Individuals from around the world responded to Habitat for Humanity International's flagship publication's call for photos representing the homebuilding organization's life-changing work. "We received more than 250 entries for our contest, and the photos truly capture the heart of Habitat's work around the world," said Shala Carlson, editor of Habitat World. "We are pleased that so many people shared their images of the need for housing and Habitat's efforts to meet that need, and we congratulate Pi-Lin Vuong. Vuong, a 31-year-old marketing professional, submitted "Inspired," a photograph taken in Malawi of Habitat for Humanity Global Village participants walking alongside neighborhood children with several Habitat houses in the horizon. Habitat's Global Village trips are short-term volunteer mission trips. "I am thrilled that my photo was selected as one of the top entries for the Habitat World contest," said Vuong. "I hope that it inspires people to get involved in the great work Habitat is doing to help provide affordable housing." A team of Habitat judges reviewed each submitted photo for its ability to capture Habitat's mission and impact, as well as its technical composition and quality.Inspired, Pi-Lin Vuong Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:46:39 -0500 Full article 1_108available at: www.habitat.ca Habitat for Humanity International is launching an appeal for $10 million in order to help as many as 25,000 families rebuild their lives following severe flooding across Southeast Asia. Funds raised by the "Southeast Asia Floods Appeal" will be used to rebuild communities devastated by floods in Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Habitat for Humanity will work with partners and volunteers to clean homes of mud and debris, provide shelter repair kits, rehabilitate or completely rebuild houses. "Once the floodwaters have subsided and the scale of damage established, Habitat for Humanity expects to be involved in substantial rehabilitation work, as well as building basic 'core' houses where needed," said Rick Hathaway, Asia-Pacific vice president for Habitat for Humanity International. Flood waters are expected to take several weeks to recede. A Thai family being evacuated from their home near Don Muang airport which is affected by flooding. Photo: Mikel Flamm. The current outlines of Habitat's response include: Cambodia: Distribution of shelter repair kits to around 1,000 families in Siem Reap and Kandal provinces. Philippines: Assist up to 10,000 families in Navotas, Metro Manila; Bicol region, southern Luzon island, and Mindanao island with shelter repair kits, hygiene kits and care kits, and construction of at least 700 houses. Thailand: Support an estimated 10,000 families by providing temporary or transitional shelters, and cleaning and repairing schools in Phitsanulok, Lop Buri and Ayutthaya provinces. Vietnam: Distribution of shelter repair kits, assembly of some transitional shelters and construction of some new "core" houses in Dong Thap and Long An provinces, in the Mekong Delta of southern Vietnam. Make a donation to Habitat for Humanity International's Southeast Asia Flood Appeal through Habitat for Humanity Canada by clicking here. The cost for cleaning up and providing a shelter repair kit is expected to average about $450 a family. The specific contents of a repair kit will vary depending on a family's circumstances, the location of the community and the country. Shortages of materials and transport difficulties can drive up costs after a disaster. Severe typhoons and large volumes of monsoon rain caused severe flooding across many countries in Southeast Asia in recent months. The floods have already claimed more than 770 lives, and affected over eight million people. Habitat for Humanity has already supported hundreds of families in Southeast Asia throughout September and October, distributing emergency shelter kits in Thailand and Cambodia, and shelter repair, hygiene, and care kits in the Philippines after Typhoons Nesat (Pedring) and Nalgae (Quiel). Mon, 7 Nov 2011 14:40:25 -0500 Full article 1_107available at: www.habitat.ca About the Carter Work Project This year's event takes place Nov. 5-12. President and Mrs. Carter join volunteers to build homes with families in Leogâne, Haiti. Leogâne — 18 miles from Port au Prince — is considered to be the epicenter of the January 2010 earthquake. President and Mrs. Carter help to build a Habitat home during the Carter Work Project in 2010. Mon, 7 Nov 2011 14:29:10 -0500 Full article 1_104available at: www.habitat.ca In 1942, Clarence and Florence Jordan started Koinonia Farm with Martin and Mabel England. Their "demonstration plot for the Kingdom of God" promoted racial equality and Christian fellowship. Twenty-six years after founding the farm, Clarence Jordan began pursuing another radical idea, a concept he called "partnership housing." Today, Jordan is remembered as the spiritual godfather of Habitat for Humanity. His youngest son, Lenny, grew up at Koinonia, and he remembers his father testing the model that would become Habitat. As the school bus rolled to a stop, we saw the tractor with the tree planter and a stack of pine seedlings ready to go. As Daddy emerged from the barn, it was clear he had been patiently waiting for the bus — and he was ready for our help. It took three people to plant the trees, two people on the planter and someone to drive the tractor. The old tractor moved slowly over the rough ground that just the year before still grew peanuts — peanuts we looked forward to picking green to boil. Bouncing along on the tree planter, placing small pine seedlings where marked, I realized that we would not be enjoying green peanuts again. I didn't really understand that Koinonia could not rely solely on its farming operation due to the economic boycott under way because of views on racial equality. With timber in high demand, Daddy was planting a new vision that day. But I was young. All I knew was that we were not going to grow peanuts and I could not imagine life without boiled peanuts! As I grew into my teenage years, those pines grew tall and straight. Each time I walked through them, I marveled at the orderly rows and the dense mat of needles keeping the weeds at bay. While the pine trees continued their rapid growth, however, Koinonia's community was growing smaller. The economic boycott and physical threats on the farm were having an effect. Then in the late '60s, things began to change. Daddy had come up with the idea of setting up a "Fund for Humanity" to help nearby residents built better housing for their families. He explained his plan to Millard Fuller, and the concept was simple. Folks who had resources would donate to the Fund for Humanity, helping those without resources. Everyone would work together and partner families' payments on their homes would then go to help build or fix up houses for more people. It was just a few short weeks before enough money had been raised to begin building a house. In south Georgia, there is only one good place to build a house: in the shade on a paved road. With those two criteria in mind, my former peanut field — now tall with pines — looked to be the perfect place. Within days, chainsaws were carving out spaces for houses and roads. The Fund for Humanity's first house soon started taking shape, a place for Bo and Emma Johnson. Within months, construction began on more houses, and the construction company we initially worked with couldn't keep up. Neighbors began helping even more. Playground equipment was donated and a Child Development Center reached the drawing board. Volunteers from around the world were helping build these first interest-free homes, reducing the cost of building and allowing more houses to be built. Looking back, over the 40-plus years since the Johnsons' house was built, it is hard to imagine that the old peanut field — given up first for trees and then for affordable homes for our neighbors — marked the beginning of a worldwide effort to eliminate substandard housing. But that's what happened. A few years later, after my Daddy passed away, Millard tested out the model in Africa. And then, in 1976, he started a little ministry to advance that partnership concept: Habitat for Humanity. Bo and Emma Johnson are both deceased now, but their home in Koinonia Village remains. The pine beetle took out a lot of those tall pines, but there are still quite a few standing. And as Habitat finishes its 500,000th home worldwide, that "first house" is still occupied by one of the Johnsons' children, not far from the countless pecan trees that now thrive at Koinonia. This coming year, Koinonia will celebrate 70 years of simple living, focused on serving others. I might still miss those boiled peanuts we once eagerly awaited each year when I was young, but I now understand the vision that was driving Daddy and Millard when they set up the Fund for Humanity. From the early roots at Koinonia, people with Habitat for Humanity, the Fuller Center for Housing, Jubilee Partners and others have successfully expanded and grown that vision that began in a peanut field. As a Chinese proverb says: "If your vision is for a year, plant wheat (or peanuts!). If your vision is for 10 years, plant trees. If your vision is for a lifetime, plant people." Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:45:36 -0500 Full article 1_105available at: www.habitat.ca Written by Max Leighton, The Whitehorse Star. Originally published October 4, 2011. Friends and family members of Todd Hardy, the former territorial NDP leader and Habitat for Humanity Yukon founder, gathered at a downtown park Monday afternoon to unveil a bench plaque. It's dedicated to the life and work of a man committed to providing affordable housing for the people of Whitehorse. The commemoration was made on United Nations World Habitat Day, chosen for Hardy's work in establishing the first Habitat for Humanity project north of 60 and the completion of three volunteer-built, multifamily units, which he helped to plan and oversee between 2005 and 2010. Hardy died of leukemia in July 2010, just before the completion of Habitat for Humanity's third project, The Phoenix Rising building, erected on the site of a former drug house on Wheeler Street. The plaque, which was placed on a bench overlooking the building, reads: "Todd Hardy - 1957-2010 - Habitat for Humanity Yukon - Our Founder & Inspiration." Habitat for Humanity Yukon's Phoenix Rising housing development, now complete, and the bench that received the commemorative plaque As the ceremony began, attendees stood in a semi-circle casting shadows across the bench, lit by the early afternoon sun. "It is a really good gesture," said Tytus Hardy, Hardy's eldest son. "I know my dad really believed in housing, and it is something that he was able to achieve to help people who really needed it." The first address was made by Michael Purves, a friend and cofounder of Habitat for Humanity Yukon. Purves praised the dedication of his leader and lamented the fact that Hardy was never able to see the completion of the project he was instrumental in establishing. "For me, the disappointing thing is that when we had the dedication for the first house, Todd had to go to Vancouver for treatment," said Purves. "When we had the dedication for the duplex and the two families there, again, Todd had to go down to treatment and he missed that. As you know, he missed the third as well. "But it was his vision and his faith in the community that saw these things built so on this special day, we thought it was appropriate to honour Todd and all he has done." The blessing of the new plaque was performed by Father Jim Bleackley, pastor of Sacred Heart Cathedral and a long-time friend of the Hardy family. "When I sit on this bench, I think about Todd Hardy and all the good things he did with such dedication and such love," he said. "But on this day, I would like to think about his passion and his effort for those in this community who struggled in this community. His passion changed the way we look at and understand one another, and it benefited our community greatly." Bleackley led a prayer for the late politician, blessing the bench and those in Whitehorse who struggle with finding "food, shelter and community." Todd's wife, former Yukon MP Louise Hardy, gave the final address. "He worked on every one of the buildings," she said. "For Todd, shelter was an abiding passion. He wanted more houses, not more studies. "He knew what it was about to be a politician but he also knew the importance of laying the groundwork. He always asked, 'What can I do now?' His dream was to be a part of Habitat for Humanity, and he put roofs over people's heads, and he did that. There are families living in there now," she said, pointing to the Phoenix building. "He was also so proud to be part of the team, even as his physical strength left him he loved to sit here and watch the men work." Louise Hardy had a special way of getting her husband's attention. "When I wanted to get Todd's attention, I would get one of his hammers and just walk around the house knocking like this," she said, tapping a small stone on the bench and smiling to the gathered crowd. "He'd be thrilled today just to be able to see us here," she said. "It's really something." As the crowd dissipated, Louise Hardy spoke to the lasting legacy of her husband's work in the community. "He believed in the work he did," she said. "He believed that housing is essential in the North. He thought it should be a human right and should be accessible to all, and his work is being carried on by Habitat for Humanity here in Whitehorse." Reprinted with permission. Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:45:23 -0500 Full article 1_106available at: www.habitat.ca On Monday, October 3rd, 2011, as part of Habitat for Humanity's World Habitat Day events, the 500,000th Habitat home was dedicated in Maai Mahiu, Kenya. On the same day, the walls were raised on the 500,001st house in Paterson, New Jersey, in recognition of the work still needed to be done to eradicate the global affordable housing crisis.In Kenya, the 500,000th house was completed in partnership with Leah Wairimu Ngugi and her grandchildren. Ms. Ngugi's family is one of many who were displaced after post-election violence erupted in the country in late 2007. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes, which were looted and burned. These internally displaced persons (IDP) lost all of their belongings and are living in small tents, often in deplorable conditions. Habitat for Humanity Kenya has worked with IDP in Maai Mahiu for more than two years and has helped resettle 235 families into durable, decent, three-room houses in new communities. "While we've made great progress in Kenya providing shelter to low-income families and internally displaced persons, there is still much work to be done here and around the world. We will continue building upon the momentum that these houses helped create until every family has access to decent, affordable shelter," said Simon Nyabwengi, country director of Habitat for Humanity Kenya. Habitat for Humanity currently operates in nearly 80 countries and is present in all provinces and two territories of Canada. Thanks to Habitat for Humanity's help, a family somewhere in the world improves its housing situation every 7 minutes of every hour of every day of the year. In 2010, Habitat for Humanity served a record 74,960 families in need. Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:45:16 -0500 Full article 1_97available at: www.habitat.ca Building 2,000 homes in less than 26 years has taken time, effort and resources. To date, Habitat for Humanity has worked with more than 300,000 volunteers in Canada, who have logged more than 11.2 million hours on build sites. These volunteers, working under the direction of trained professionals, have hammered 35.4 million nails and screwed in 56,000 light bulbs! They have also installed more than 3,000 toilets, 5,000 sinks, 24,000 windows and 36,000 doors, and applied 80,000 gallons of paint to help transform the houses into homes! Habitat for Humanity's 2,000th Home On June 18th, Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston, joined Habitat for Humanity Canada in Winnipeg to raise the walls of Habitat for Humanity's 2,000th home in Canada, being built beside Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg's 200th home. The Governor General - as patron of Habitat for Humanity Canada - and his wife expressed their congratulations for reaching these milestones by building alongside Habitat for Humanity volunteers and families, as well as the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer, former governor general of Canada, who also participated on the build. Habitat for Humanity's 2,000th home in Canada is located at 871 Nairn Street in Winnipeg. Once complete, the house will be a two-story side-by-side home with three bedrooms and will be approximately 1,200 square feet. Construction is expected to be complete this November when Jeffrey, Rowena and their son and daughter will take possession of the home. The family currently lives in a small one bedroom apartment with very poor insulation and no nearby space for the kids to play. Before hearing that they had been approved for Habitat homeownership, they felt cramped, isolated and trapped without any escape. Now, they have a newfound sense of hope and are ecstatic at the opportunity of affordable homeownership. His Excellency (right) working on the 2,000th home beside the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer (left) His Excellency, Her Excellency Sharon Johnston and the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer raising the walls on the 2,000th home Fri, 9 Sep 2011 15:57:02 -0500 Full article 1_103available at: www.habitat.ca Habitat for Humanity is deeply concerned about recent serious drought conditions potentially affecting millions of people in East Africa, including portions of Ethiopia and Kenya. Habitat for Humanity has been working in the region for nearly 30 years and is continuing to closely monitor the drought situation to determine any appropriate response if Habitat for Humanity's shelter, water sanitation and other programs become affected by the crisis. Since June 2009, Habitat for Humanity has been employing its water/sanitation project (WatSan) in Ethiopia's central capital of Addis Ababa, where 80 percent of the city's 2.74 million residents live in substandard housing , often with extremely poor sanitation. So far, more than 1,300 families have been served by the project, which in part involves building proper toilet facilities and digging trenches for septic tank connections. In Kenya, Habitat has served more than 5,000 families, including helping build shelter through its IDP (Internally Displaced People) program for hundreds of families forcibly displaced by violence following political and social unrest in 2008. If you would like to help those affected by the drought in East Africa by making a donation, we ask that you visit the CBC's East Africa Relief page for a list of aid organizations currently on the ground in Africa, who will be able to ensure that relief is delivered immediately to help those that need it most. Thank you for your concern in this matter. HFHC Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:09:15 -0500 Full article 1_98available at: www.habitat.ca After two years of fundraising, the combined efforts of 900 devoted St. Francis Xavier students in Edmonton has resulted in over $100,000 being raised to build a Habitat home for a low-income Edmonton family. The students raised funds through a school-wide bike-a-thon, where they took shifts on an exercise bike, cycling for a total of 50 hours. Keeping with the marathon theme, next the students raised money for Habitat through a wake-a-thon, where they stayed awake for a full 24 hours. Through these and other fundraising efforts, the students surpassed their goal, contributing $108,000 in total to the building of a Habitat home. The home being built with this donation will be part of a 47-home development in Habitat for Humanity Edmonton's Anderson Gardens community. The home will be purchased by Tiffani through a no down-payment, no-interest mortgage that will be geared to her income. Tiffani will move in to the home with her nine-year-old son, Tristan, and eight-year-old daughter, Shayla, upon its completion. "I couldn't be more impressed than I am with how our high school students have rallied together to raise over $100,000 for our community," said Alfred Nikolai, Habitat for Humanity President and CEO at a June 2nd event where Tiffani and her family thanked the school's students. "It's a great day to celebrate." Tiffani at St. Francis Xavier School, thanking the students for helping provide her and her family with the hand up of homeownership Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:46:52 -0500 Full article 1_99available at: www.habitat.ca ReStore 20th Anniversary This year marks several anniversaries of Habitat for Humanity in Canada, including that of ReStores, a concept first developed by five volunteers in Winnipeg 20 years ago. Quickly proving its worth, the idea caught on and today there are 65 ReStores selling new and gently used building materials and home decor items in Canada, with hundreds of more locations spread across the United States. Equally important to the deals that can be had at ReStores is their environmental and social impact. In 2010, ReStores diverted over 20,000 lbs of material from landfill and recycled 2.1 million lbs of metal. As well, through the sale of ReStore items, a lot of which is marked down by up to 75%, ReStores raise substantial funds for Habitat for Humanity's homebuilding efforts in Canada. ReStores rely heavily upon their surrounding communities: on volunteers in their operation and on community members to donate salable items. Click here to find and support your local ReStore. PEI 15th Anniversary " As with any teenager celebrating their 15th birthday, Habitat for Humanity PEI is going to spend it with its friends doing what it loves - building homes for families!... You're invited to one of the biggest parties in PEI this year. Come help us celebrate!" - Susan Zambonin, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity PEI For their 15th year, Habitat for Humanity PEI plans to build five homes, providing homeownership to 34 PEI residents currently living in substandard housing. Hamilton 20th Anniversary "Habitat for Humanity Hamilton is looking forward to our next twenty years with a vision that will not only provide opportunity to more families, but will contribute to the redevelopment of one of Hamilton's oldest neighbourhoods. While our early years were marked with challenges, we look forward to having learned from these and building at a rate that will place our affiliate as a leader in providing homeownership to hardworking families." - Bob McConkey, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Hamilton This year has already seen Habitat for Humanity Hamilton dedicate four homes, setting in motion a transformation that will impact the lives of four partner families for generations to come. The homes are part of an eight-unit townhouse development, with the remainder of the units to be completed and dedicated later this year. With these homes, Habitat for Humanity Hamilton is working towards the city's goal of making Hamilton the best place to raise a child. Edmonton 20th Anniversary "We're able to celebrate because of the incredible vision and determination of those who started the Habitat program in Edmonton twenty years ago. These folks set the foundation for us to be able to reach our current goal of serving 100 partner families each and every year by 2012." - Alfred Nikolai, President & CEO,Habitat for Humanity Edmonton Habitat for Humanity Edmonton built approximately one home per year during its first decade in Edmonton. In 2011, they plan to serve over 80 families with the hand up of homeownership. Habitat for Humanity Edmonton celebrated its 20th anniversary with their second annual Habitat Day in the Capital Region, a campaign that saw five builders each donate a home to the affiliate. Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:46:44 -0500 Full article 1_95available at: www.habitat.ca OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 17, 2011) - Lorelei was the first in her family to graduate from high school, attend university, and be fully employed as a family support worker. Despite these accomplishments, she found herself trapped in a cycle of poverty and unaffordable housing. Lorelei grew up in Fort Rouge, Manitoba, and made her way to university with the sponsorship of her First Nation community. However, as a single young mother, she could not afford housing that was both safe enough and suitable to raise her family. To find a suitable neighbourhood that she could afford required Lorelei to move 11 times in the course of a decade, until her sister persuaded her to apply to Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg. To her surprise, her application was approved almost immediately. Thanks to Habitat for Humanity Canada's Aboriginal Housing Program, Lorelei is now a proud homeowner who has finally found stability and security - and a community among the other Habitat families she met through the building of the homes. She can decorate her house to suit her family's needs and, more importantly, enjoy the safety and freedom of homeownership. The Aboriginal Housing Program Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg had worked with Aboriginal families before, but the program Lorelei applied for - the Aboriginal Housing Program - was the result of a new and unique partnership between Habitat for Humanity Canada and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). As Canada's national housing agency, CMHC works to help Aboriginal families and communities improve their housing conditions. Recognizing the need for sustainable housing for Aboriginal Canadian families, CMHC and Habitat for Humanity Canada formed their partnership in 2007 to launch Habitat for Humanity's pilot Aboriginal Housing Program. The goal of this program is to help Habitat for Humanity's affiliates across Canada make the Habitat homeownership model available to more Aboriginal families, both on- and off-reserve. In 2007, CMHC assigned a senior employee to the organization to help develop the pilot, help Habitat capitalize on its successes, and ensure a transition to an ongoing, self-sustaining national program. "Habitat for Humanity Canada had come to realize that the distinct challenges faced by Aboriginal families required special attention," says Jay Thakar, the senior CMHC secondee working with Habitat for Humanity Canada. "The organization's mission is to promote homeownership as a means of breaking the cycle of poverty, but recognized that these distinct challenges needed to be better understood before seeking to address them." Through the initiative, Habitat has been able to leverage CMHC's expertise and decades-long connection with Aboriginal communities across Canada. Under the Aboriginal Housing Program, Habitat for Humanity affiliates across Canada work with Aboriginal organizations and families. These organizations can recommend Aboriginal families that show financial stability and potential for homeownership, but are unable to afford a down-payment - in short, families who meet Habitat for Humanity's normal selection criteria. Families that are approved can purchase homes without a down-payment, and are offered a long-term mortgage that is interest-free. But these families are not merely applicants. "Partnering is the operative word," says Thakar. "The goal is for these families to become homeowners, and they demonstrate their commitment by providing 500 hours of 'sweat equity' - that is, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity affiliates." Partners such as Lorelei participated in the building of Habitat homes in Winnipeg, which she found to be an opportunity to meet other Habitat partner families. The investment pays forward financially as well, as all mortgage payments are reinvested in building more Habitat homes. Recognizing excellence To mark the upcoming end of the pilot period and the beginning of a sustainable ongoing national Habitat for Humanity Canada Program, CMHC created an annual Award for Outstanding Contribution to Habitat for Humanity Aboriginal Housing. The award recognizes a Canadian affiliate that has demonstrated excellence in Aboriginal housing. CMHC presented the first of these awards to Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg on May 20, 2011 at Habitat for Humanity's Annual General Meeting awards gala in Burnaby, British Columbia. Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg Aboriginal Housing Program Build Site Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg built 15 of the 22 homes completed through the Aboriginal Housing Program to date. A key factor in the success in Winnipeg was the development of formal agreements between Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg and the Ojibway First Nation and the Manitoba Metis Housing Corporation, which allowed for easier identification of qualifying families, and provided grounds for the First Nations to approach the provincial government for further funding. Part of a larger picture "This has proven an excellent way for Habitat for Humanity to reach out to Canadian Aboriginal communities, where housing remains a considerable challenge," says Stewart Hardacre, President and Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity Canada. "For the future, we envision completing a further 15 to 20 homes annually under the Program." Meanwhile, this seed of housing development has attracted private donations, with many donors directing their funds to Aboriginal housing. It's also fostering innovative ways to create more housing with the funds available. CMHC continues to invest in opportunities to improve housing for Aboriginal Canadians, working with more than 400 First Nations communities across Canada to provide knowledge, skills, training and resources that will help First Nations address their housing needs and to acquire more skills and knowledge to design, build, inspect and manage housing on-reserve. More on the Aboriginal Housing Program Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:10:31 -0500 Full article 1_27available at: www.habitat.ca In an age where Corporate Social Responsibility is an expected business practice, rather than a rarity, it is important for Canada's businesses to look more closely at what it means to "give" in this environment. No longer does corporate giving involve an arm's-length financial donation that gets logged in the books as another transaction and nothing more. Today, companies are creating partnerships that have a multi-layered benefit that extends beyond the handing over of money. Take Holcim Canada's strategic, longterm partnership with Habitat for Humanity Canada as an example - a partnership that began in 2003. Not only does our partnership allow Holcim to achieve our own business objectives in areas such as employee engagement, environmental stewardship and community investment, it also places struggling working families into homes of their own. More recently, Holcim joined the HFHC 360 Built Smart Partnership (launching 2011), making a three-year pledge of significant monetary and in-kind material donations to be put toward the building of sustainable communities across the country. Our employees will be actively engaged in hands-on volunteer work to further define what a sustainable community looks like by putting hammers to nails and carpets on floors. This definition of a sustainable community certainly includes environmental considerations such as energy efficiency, green material use and reduced carbon emissions, but it extends far beyond that. Our vision of a sustainable community is one where children in stable homes get better grades and have fewer health problems, adults have better future prospects and higher self-esteem, and our company's employees connect with the communities in which we are located through meaningful volunteerism. Holcim Canada's relationship with Habitat for Humanity Canada has raised our profile in local communities, establishing a deeper relationship between our company and the people we do business with every day. As well, this type of longterm, multi-year, strategic partnership will also lead to brand recognition, employee retention and help with recruitment. Holcim has paid a lot of attention to improving environmental performance and community relations in recent years, and our involvement with the HFHC 360 Built Smart Partnership will allow us to continue to do that as we go forward. We are a visible leader in our industry; Holcim is one of Canada's largest producers and suppliers of products and services for the construction industry, employing 3,500 Canadians and serving customers across the country. But we choose not to stop there. Our leadership extends into commitment to sustainable building, the environment and community, and empowering working families towards home ownership. This article originally appeared in a Habitat for Humanity special information feature in The Globe and Mail newspaper on Oct 4, 2010. Produced by RandallAnthony Communications Inc. Reprinted with permission. Read more about the 360 Built Smart Partnership Read more about Holcim Canada Thu, 2 Jun 2011 15:14:57 -0500 Full article 1_24available at: www.habitat.ca Growing up in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, I was relatively insulated from the realities of Canada's affordable-housing crisis until I moved to Toronto in the mid-1980s. Across the city, in 2009, 71,000 families were on the waiting list for subsidized housing. And looking at Canada's numbers, an estimated 1.3 million families are in need of affordable housing right now. A number of public, private and non-governmental organizations are hard at work to provide Canadians with homes that meet their needs. But we must move faster. And our solution must be more holistic, taking the entire picture into account: environment, community connection, volunteerism, education, corporate social responsibility, employee engagement and more. Since 1996, The Home Depot Canada has provided tens of thousands of skilled, volunteer labour hours, and more than $20 million in cash and in-kind donations to Habitat for Humanity Canada's (HFHC) housing projects across the country. Through our experience, we have found Habitat's program does more than build homes; it empowers families and builds a sense of community. It gives families a hand up rather than a hand out. Now, The Home Depot Canada and its foundation are making a long-term, three-year commitment of $12 million in cash and in-kind donations to support sustainable community development with HFHC. We'll achieve this through a new program HFHC is launching in 2011 with our support; the 360 Built Smart Partnership, which will: • help families in need access and succeed with home ownership; • reduce Habitat's environmental footprint by funding more environmentally sound building practices; • rally communities and volunteers in Habitat's work; and • more strategically engage public and private partners in affordable housing solutions. The Home Depot Canada and its foundation are making this contribution in recognition that an investment in affordable housing is more than an act of charity; it is a strategic investment in our society. Research has proven that affordable housing improves the health of children and adults, helps children achieve better grades, keeps family units stronger and improves an individual's job prospects. As Canadian businesses, we can all help provide affordable housing by getting involved and contributing to organizations like HFHC. This article originally appeared in a Habitat for Humanity special information feature in The Globe and Mail newspaper on Oct 4, 2010. Produced by RandallAnthony Communications Inc. Reprinted with permission. Read more about the 360 Built Smart Partnership Read more about The Home Depot Canada Foundation Thu, 2 Jun 2011 15:13:37 -0500 Full article 1_70available at: www.habitat.ca TARION ANNOUNCES AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE FINALISTS New Home Builder Nominees are Leaders in Customer Satisfaction (Toronto, ON, April 7, 2011) - Finalists for the 2011 Tarion Awards of Excellence, which recognize new home builders in Ontario based solely on their customer service delivery, were announced today by Tarion Warranty Corporation. "Each of the Tarion Awards of Excellence finalists can proudly say they have gained an honour that every business person strives for—recognition of a job well done by their own customers," said Tarion President and CEO Howard Bogach. "We congratulate these builders. They have done the industry proud." Finalists were determined based on the results of a survey of more than 48,000 Ontario consumers who took possession of a new home between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010. More than 8,000 survey responses were received and the results were tabulated by Crunch Research in partnership with Harris Decima. Survey questions focused on homeowners' satisfaction with their builder, covering every stage in the homeowner-builder relationship: from the signing of the Agreement of Purchase and Sale, through construction and the pre-delivery period, to after-sales service. Builders must have had at least five new home possessions during the survey timeframe to qualify for the Awards and a specified number of completed questionnaires must have been received. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 19, 2011. The following finalists will compete in four award categories: Small, Medium, and Large Volume and High-Rise. High-Rise Builder Category(100 High-Rise possessions or more per year) The Daniels Corporation - Toronto Domicile - Ottawa Mattamy Homes - Oakville Options for Homes - Toronto Tridel - Toronto Large Volume Builder Category (100 possessions or more per year) Brookfield Homes - Markham Fusion Homes - Guelph Mattamy Homes - Oakville Monarch Corporation - Toronto Pidel Homes - Guelph Medium Volume Builder Category(21-100 possessions or more per year) Doug Tarry Ltd. - St. Thomas Habitat for Humanity Toronto Inc. - Toronto Morra Homes. - Barrie Neilcorp Homes. - Almonte Wrighthaven Homes Limited - Fergus Small Volume Builder Category (5-20 possessions or more per year) Cara Custom Homes - Ancaster Fernando Homes Incorporated - Welland Gordon Tobey Developments - Brighton Ken Seigel & Sons - Pembroke Wasko Developments Inc. - London About Tarion Tarion Warranty Corporation is a private corporation established in 1976 to serve as the Regulator of the new home building industry in Ontario. In this role, Tarion licenses all new home and condominium builders pursuant to provincial legislation. This statute requires new home builders to provide purchasers with warranty coverage that is guaranteed by Tarion. The Corporation also establishes minimum time standards for after-sales service, and adjudicates issues between homeowners and builders. As of the end of 2010, almost two million homes in Ontario have been protected under warranty by Tarion. Thu, 2 Jun 2011 15:11:58 -0500 Full article 1_55available at: www.habitat.ca On January 12, 2010, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti just 10 miles west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The earthquake damaged nearly 190,000 houses, of which 105,000 were completely destroyed. Of the more than two million affected survivors, 1.3 million are still displaced today. Destruction in Haiti: One Year Later: Milestones in Habitat's Recovery Work in Haiti Soon after the earthquake in Haiti, Habitat for Humanity set a goal of serving 50,000 families over five years, helping them move toward safe, secure and permanent places to call home. In one year, Habitat has already reached these milestones: More than 21,000 emergency shelter kits are in the hands of people who needed them most. The kits included tools—hammers, pliers, chisels, work gloves, rope and tarps—that have allowed Haitians to clean up debris, complete basic repairs and create emergency shelter. In addition, more than 3,300 emergency shelter kits have been stockpiled, ready to distribute quickly whenever a disaster occurs. More than 1,000 families had received transitional or upgradable shelters by December 2010, with a total of 2,000 scheduled to be completed by the end of January 2011. The newest model of upgradable shelter features a timber-frame skeleton with pressure-treated plywood walls, a tin roof and concrete perimeter foundation. The structure is built so that concrete blocks can be added later, as the family's finances improve. More than 2,000 housing damage assessments have been conducted; the goal is to conduct an additional 6,000 assessments through June 2011. Assessments help determine which structures can be made safe and which need to be torn down, making way for new, permanent shelters. More than 500 Haitians have been trained in earthquake-resistant construction techniques. More than 200 Haitians have been hired by Habitat Resource Centers to build shelters. In a nation with an unemployment rate of 60 percent, job opportunities are a crucial part of rebuilding. Read the One-Year Report Building Hope in Haiti: One Year Later (1MB .pdf) Also available in French Help Haiti Rebuild Homes and Hope Whether you want to donate or help us raise awareness, you can be a part of Habitat for Humanity's rebuilding efforts in Haiti. Donate to the Haiti recovery effort Thanks to The Larry and Cookie Rossy Family Foundation for their significant contribution to the recovery efforts in Haiti Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:52:46 -0500 Full article 1_33available at: www.habitat.ca Habitat for Humanity Canada sends its thoughts and prayers to all those affected by the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that devastated areas of Japan on March 11th. In response, we are currently working with our international office, Habitat for Humanity Japan, and other NGO partners to assess the situation, and determine how and where Habitat for Humanity can be of most help. Debris covers part of a residential area in Rikuzentakata, northern Japan, Monday, March 14, 2011, three days after a powerful earthquake-triggered tsunami hit the country's east coast. (AP Photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun, Atsushi Taketazu) In the near term, Habitat will be sending leadership representatives to Japan to determine potential operational plans. We expect the response to include domestic volunteer engagement with key NGO partners, and directing activities focused on home clean-up and repair, although this latter element will be a function of resources, capacity, and specific needs of those affected by this disaster. Please make a donation to help Habitat serve families affected by this disaster We appreciate your donation to Habitat to aid in the response, and we will update our website with details on our activities in this recovery effort. Yours In Partnership, Habitat for Humanity Canada Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:44:03 -0500 Full article 1_25available at: www.habitat.ca Some see retirement as the end of an era, others see it as just the beginning. For Orest Myckan, retirement has given him the chance to travel the world and help those less fortunate. Since retiring in 1997, he's participated in 18 Habitat for Humanity builds around the world. "When retirement came along I said no more meetings, no more committees," remembers Orest, who spent his career working as a human resources specialist. He was a long-time volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in his local community in Edmonton but the year he retired, he joined his first Habitat build abroad - traveling to Honduras to erect a house for a family in need. A team-builder by trade, Orest began leading trips in 2000. "Once I started, I just couldn't stop," he says, "the experiences were just so fulfilling." Over the course of the last decade, Orest's builds have taken him from Guatemala, the Philippines, Jamaica and Mexico to Cost Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic and even Iqualuit. Now 67, Orest plans to continue doing two international builds a year in addition to his local volunteer work. This year, his 19th build took him to Nepal for the Everest 2010 Build that brought together teams from all over the world to launch construction of the second 5,000 Habitat houses in the region. Orest says the payoff from his involvement with Habitat has been incredible. "You come together as a team and form really meaningful relationships with each other and the local people - and you see first-hand the results of your efforts," he says. Hammering nails and laying bricks across the globe has been Orest's fountain of youth. "It really keeps me young," he says. A selection of photos from Orest's travels. Everest Build 2010, Nepal - October Orest arriving in Pokhara, Nepal, forthe Everest Build 2010, where 465 volunteers from eight countries built 39 homes Orest, who was responsible for four houses as Cluster Leader,is pictured here with Craig Evans, a GV volunteer and retired Firefighter/EMT who traveled from California to be part of the build Orest presenting a plaque from Habitat for Humanity Edmonton, Orest's local affiliate, to Aruna Paul, County Representative for Habitat for Humanity Nepal, recognizing the 41 houses built as part of Everest Build 2010 San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic - March 2010 Orest with Engher Jomeini Rodriguez Arias, who volunteered to be the site translator for Orest's SunLife Financial team build Orest pouring concrete footings for the home built for Habitat partner family Cleyrin Vidal and Miguel Cordero Click here to learn more about the Habitat for Humanity Global Village Program. Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:21:33 -0500 Full article 1_28available at: www.habitat.ca An avid Habitat for Humanity volunteer, when the recession slowed Ernie Fraser's business as a consultant, he seized the opportunity to ramp up his volunteer work. "I've always been active in the community and I wanted to dedicate my time to something meaningful," he says. He's led four Habitat trips - two to Romania, one to Macedonia and one to Mongolia. History has always interested Ernie who makes it a priority to research the countries he's visiting. "Understanding the political and social backgrounds of the country make the experiences that much more amazing," he says. For Ernie, his favourite part of the trips is working alongside the families who are going to live in the houses. "Despite the language barrier, you form a real bond with these people in the less than two weeks you're there," he says, "And knowing that you're doing something to improve their quality of life really strikes a chord with me." Ernie's next trip will take him to New Mexico and he plans to lead two trips a year, and when semi-retirement turns into full-fledged retirement, he'd like to up that number to three trips a year. "Some people head into retirement fearful of what lies ahead after they've dedicated the last 30 years to raising their families and building their careers. Habitat gives people the opportunity to use the skills they have to make a contribution to the world." - Ernie Fraser Much of the draw for Ernie is the quality of the Habitat model. "The people at Habitat have the skills and experience to pull together successful teams and deal with any unpredictable situations that arise as part of an international build," he says. And according to Ernie, Habitat trips are a good fit for all kinds of different people. "If you are looking to put your leadership skills to work, you can lead a team, and if you just want to participate in a build you can easily plug into the organization and leave the planning to someone else." Article written by Erin O'Hara. A selection of photos from Ernie's travels Photo credit: Ernie Fraser Macedonia - Spring 2010 Build team, two partner family members and the construction supervisor around the sixplex Habitat housing units. Member of one of the partner families presenting gifts to three Global Village team members. Mongolia - 2010 Traditional Mongolian ger (felt tent-home) beside one of the Habitat homes. The family from the ger moved into the new home upon completion. The Global Village team along with a number of locals built several Habitat homes from the ground up. Oarja, Romania - June/July 2009 During the trip, the crew framed and insulated this eight-unit Habitat building while also hanging drywall and assisting local professionals install trusses. Local "especially polite" children visited the site on July 1st to wish the Canadian build team a Happy Canada Day "The Real Ernie" Click here to learn more about the Habitat for Humanity Global Village Program. Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:05:57 -0500 Full article 1_30available at: www.habitat.ca HFH Peterborough is the first Canadian affiliate to build a truly affordable 'green' home to LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Canada for Homes Platinum certification level. Partnering with BEC Construction Consulting Group Ltd. and the Fleming College Sustainable Building Design and Construction program, HFH Peterborough will build a landmark affordable green home at their Towerhill development in Peterborough. Installing Solar Hot Water on the Roof - June 2010 Lowering the Roof HFH Peterborough and HFH Canada recognize that it is essential Habitat build its homes using the best 'Green' technology available. This innovative LEED Canada for Homes program will allow Habitat to build homes that are not only affordable, but that also have low repair costs, excellent air quality, lower monthly energy and water costs. The LEED Canada for Homes program also ensures that all Habitat 'green' homes are built with consistency, from build to build, using the best design principles. Another benefit to all Habitat communities is that LEED Canada for Homes encourages greater community stewardship by allowing for smaller building sites, more central locations and minimal site disturbance. Prefabricated Straw Bale Wall Panels Installing the Roof This home is also being built to be fully accessible by a wheelchair. Christina and Derek Smith will be moving into their new home in September 2010 with their two children, Braydon (5) and Addison (2). Braydon suffers from cerebral palsy, therefore, this fully accessible home can be enjoyed by the entire family for many years to come. HFH Peterborough Green Build in Progress Derek & Christina Smith with Children Braydon and Addison The HFH Peterborough Towerhill homes will utilize best practice environmental features and serve as a template for future Habitat builds across the country. To monitor the progress of the HFH Peterborough LEED builds and learn more about other LEED projects, please visit http://www.becconsulting.ca/projects, http://www.sustainablebuilding2010.ca and http://www.habitatpeterborough.ca/ For more information about LEED Canada for Homes see http://www.cagbc.org/leed/systems/homes/index.php and http://www.cagbc.org/leed/what/index.php Thanks to HFH Peterborough, David Moffat, Dan Earle (photographer) and all the participants and donors. Fleming College Students at the Green Build Raising the Walls Fri, 4 Feb 2011 10:24:28 -0500 http://habitat.ca/hfhcnewsp4237.php Full article 1_29available at: www.habitat.ca One year after Delta Hotels and Resorts began working with Habitat for Humanity Canada, their national charitable partner, they stepped-up their overall commitment to Habitat and other causes by launching their Good Neighbours Challenge. The campaign set the ambitious goals of raising $1-million and donating 10,000 volunteer hours to support their charitable partners from coast to coast. Since June of this year, $571,000 has been raised and 8,000 volunteer hours have been donated to charitable causes across Canada, including local Habitat for Humanity homebuilding projects. A major contributor to Delta's impressive achievement has been the Delta Community Cruiser tour, which just finished a 74-day journey across Canada to showcase the importance of volunteering and giving back. Habitat Halifax Regional Municipality volunteers and staff with the Cruiser on its 31st stop The Delta Community Cruiser Tours Canada Again! The Delta Community Cruiser has once again traveled across Canada, covering 12,000 km and making stops in 34 communities that Delta calls home, showcasing the importance of volunteering and giving back. Having left Victoria, BC on June 1st, six selected Delta employees, Community Ambassadors, wrapped-up the 74-day tour on August 13th in St. John's, NL. Along the way, the Cruiser team, along with employees from each Delta hotel and resort, took part in events and hosted fundraisers in support of Habitat affiliates and other local partners. Delta's Community Spirit Travels Nationwide Half of the events during the Delta Community Cruiser tour were in support of Habitat for Humanity, from raising money at community car washes and BBQ fundraisers, to helping build homes for families in need and lending a hand at Habitat Restores. As a national charitable partner, Delta Hotels and Resorts shares Habitat Canada's commitment to building strong communities. Delta began a three-year partnership with Habitat for Humanity Canada in 2009. In its first year, the hotel chain doubled its fundraising goals and raised over $500,000 for Habitat homebuilding activities across Canada! Additionally, Delta employees participated on build sites from coast to coast in support of affordable housing. The Delta Cruiser partaking in the House on Wheels parade in Fredericton, NB The Cruiser's 34th and final stop at the Delta Hotel in St. John's, NL Delta and Employees Lend a Hand When it's Needed the Most At a time when the need for affordable housing is on the rise, Delta is ramping up its community involvement - and they're doing so in an innovative way. The Delta Community Cruiser tour embodies Delta's longstanding commitment to giving back to the communities in which it operates. By sending six employees on a journey to connect the company locally and nationally, they are uniting a company-wide effort under one campaign aimed at making a real difference across the country. "The purpose of this tour was to show Canadians how easy it is to make an impact on your local community, just by getting involved and lending a hand to those in need. Thousands of Delta employees pulled together throughout the tour to help their neighbours and to make a difference right in their own backyards." - Hank Stackhouse, President and CEO, Delta Hotels and Resorts Once Again, a Green Journey! To limit their ecological footprint, the Ambassadors once again made the 12,000 km journey in a 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid, demonstrating Delta's ongoing commitment to the environment. To find out more about the Delta Hotels and Resorts or the Delta Cruiser, please visit: www.deltahotels.com To find out how you can support Habitat for Humanity in your community, please visit our website at: www.habitat.ca Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:16:24 -0500 Full article 1_26available at: www.habitat.ca Waste Reduction Week (WRW) aims to inform and engage Canadians about the environmental and social ramifications of wasteful practices. It strives to educate, engage and empower Canadians to reduce, reuse and recycle waste. While WRW encourages us all, one week a year, to be mindful of the amount of waste we produce, Habitat for Humanity Canada ReStores provide the opportunity for Canadians to be waste-conscious year-round by accepting and reselling new and gently-used home improvement and building materials. In 2010 alone, ReStores will divert more than 20,000 tonnes of materials from landfills. The supplies you need. The prices you want. From doors and lighting fixtures to one-of-a-kind antiques, you'll find great deals on a wide range of items at ReStores. There's no shortage of inexpensive materials for do-it-yourself types and builders. In many cases, prices are 75% less than what you would find at retail. Every store is different, but here are some examples of what you can expect to find at a ReStore: Windows and Doors Sinks and Plumbing Supplies Lumber Tools Lighting Carpet, Flooring and Ceramic Tiles Habitat for Humanity Halton ReStore, Burlington, Ontario ReStores receive donations every day, so there's always something new to discover. Help us build homes, build hope. When you shop at a ReStore, 100% of the profits go toward helping families in need. So while you're saving money, you are also restoring hope for families by helping Habitat build safe and affordable homes in your community. Discover what it means to make real change while being environmentally conscious. Shop, donate or volunteer at your local ReStore. Click here to learn more about ReStores and to find the location nearest to you. Click here to learn more about WRW at Waste Reduction Week Canada or visit your provincial/territorial government website to learn more about WRW in your area. Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:39:31 -0500