News from Habitat for Humanity Canada http://habitat.ca/hfhcnewsp4237.php 120 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_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, 7 May 2012 13:26:36 -0500 Full article 1_76available at: www.habitat.ca Buy a 'paper hammer' for $2 from May 31 to July 4, 2012, at The Home Depot and help build affordable housing and stronger, more sustainable communities. All of the funds raised will support local charitable organizations including Habitat for Humanity affiliates. Again this year, The Home Depot Canada Foundation will generously match the proceeds of its top-performing district, something that resulted in Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the Ontario South district receiving over $119,012 last year! In total, the 2011 Buy a Hammer, Build Our Community campaign raised over $260,000 to support Habitat for Humanity's sustainable, affordable homebuilding projects in Canada. Below is a list of The Home Depot stores that will be raising funds for local Habitat for Humanity affiliates during the campaign: District The Home Depot Store Locations Interior BC Nanaimo, Victoria & Victoria Saanich, Park Royal, Squamish, Cambie, Courtenay, Duncan, Campbell River Manitoba and NW Ontario MN - Brandon, Winnipeg Crossroads, Winnipeg Polo Park, Winnipeg St. Vital, Winnipeg Southwest, Winnipeg North ON - Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay (excl. Timmins) Central Ontario Orillia, Bracebridge, Parry Sound Ontario South Ancaster, Hamilton & Hamilton Mountain, Kitchener & Kitchener West, Burlington, St. Catharines, Waterloo, Guelph, Cambridge, Niagara Falls Atlantic Canada NB- Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton NS- Halifax, Sydney, Dartmouth, New Minas PEI- Charlottetown NL- St. John's About The Home Depot Canada Foundation (www.homedepot.ca/foundation) As the charitable arm of The Home Depot Canada, The Home Depot Canada Foundation is committed to using its skills, knowledge and resources to build affordable, sustainable housing and vibrant, environmentally responsible communities for Canadian families in need. Bringing together volunteerism, do-it-yourself expertise, product donations and monetary grants, the Foundation supports affordable, sustainable housing projects, local neighbourhood improvement projects and community initiatives focused on the environment. Each year, associates from The Home Depot volunteer over 60,000 hours of hands-on service through Team Depot, the company's volunteer program. About The Home Depot's Partnership with Habitat for Humanity Canada The Home Depot Canada is proud of its long-standing relationship with Habitat for Humanity and our shared commitment to ensuring Canadian families in need have access to safe, decent and affordable homes. As the largest supporter of Habitat for Humanity in Canada, The Home Depot Canada and The Home Depot Canada Foundation donate over $4 million in cash and product to affordable housing projects annually. Together, we are supporting the development of affordable, sustainable housing through campaigns like Buy a Hammer, Build Our Community, the 360 Built Smart Partnership and a grant program made available to all affiliates that, since 2007, has funded over 50 Habitat for Humanity affiliates. In addition to monetary funding, Team Depot, The Home Depot's volunteer force of associates also provide volunteer hours to Habitat for Humanity build projects across Canada. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:55:21 -0500 Full article 1_124available at: www.habitat.ca Donate Your Pennies to Your Local Affiliate Office or ReStore: Find Your Nearest Affiliate Office Find Your Nearest ReStore HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AFFILIATES ACROSS CANADA TO COLLECT 690 MILLION PENNIES TO HELP BUILD 69 MORE HOMES THIS YEAR 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, 3 Apr 2012 11:17:53 -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. Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:42:14 -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