THE HABITAT - Habitat for Humanity Canada

Announcing the
New Program to Create Lasting Change for Canadian Communities
Home is a place where big
plans grow. More than a
refuge from the world
outside, a home provides
safety, stability, and self-esteem to the
families that our communities
are built upon.
For those who lack a home – especially
children – the impact can be devastating.
Worldwide, more than 10 million people
die each year from conditions related to
substandard housing, and in Canada,
those who lack affordable housing are:
meningitis, respiratory problems
or asthma;
school; and
unemployed as adults.
Nationwide, one in seven children still
lives in poverty and four million people
live in core housing need. More recently,
the United Nations stated that Canada is
facing a national emergency on poverty,
welfare, homelessness, and housing.
Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity
Canada has worked tirelessly towards
our vision of a world where everyone has
a safe and decent place to live. Our
mission is to build affordable housing
and to promote homeownership as a
means of empowering families to break
the cycle of poverty. Through our work,
we have seen the transformative impact
that housing can have on families and
on the communities in which they live.
You might be surprised to know how
many doors the key to a single home can
open: kids do better in school; parents’
employment prospects improve; and
families report that they are happier and
better equipped to face life’s challenges.
Ultimately, good housing attracts
economic investment and development
in our communities, and contributes to
thriving school systems and community
organizations. Habitat for Humanity’s
model, which focuses on volunteerism
and affordable housing, leads to the
development of stronger, healthier, and
more sustainable communities.
However, today many of our 72
Canadian affiliates struggle to find the
land, products, and financial donations
they need to allow them to continue
their work. They require support in areas
critical to engaging volunteers, building
homes, and training families in how to
succeed with their new asset.
As a result, on May 31st, Habitat for
Humanity Canada will publically launch
a new initiative called the 360 Built
Smart Partnership, designed to drive
support to local affiliates to help them
proactively address the affordable
housing crisis in their communities. The
program takes a 360-degree approach,
funding the key activities that have been
proven to build sustainable communities:
1. Homeownership & Environmental
Impact – Providing access to
homeownership while reducing
environmental impact though our
green builds and ReStores
2. Family Outreach & Financial
Education – Helping affiliates seek out
families in need in their communities
and helping partner families succeed
with homeownership over the long
term though financial literacy and
homeowner training
3. Volunteer Engagement – Rallying
communities and volunteers to
tangibly take part in our work
4. Local Collaboration & Partnership
Engaging both public and private
partners in long-term solutions
5. Safety Commitment – Fostering safety
on our build sites, and in all areas of
our work
Research has shown that investing in
these activities leads to long-term social
paybacks in the areas of improved health,
educational and economic opportunities.
“We’re very excited for the launch
of the 360 Built Smart Partnership,”
said Stewart Hardacre, President and
CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada.
“Conquering Canada’s affordable housing
crisis requires more than funding for
home builds; it requires a conscious and
holistic approach that addresses all aspects
of the need for affordable housing.”
LEADING BY EXAMPLE
Since 1996, The Home Depot
Canada and The Home Depot Canada
Foundation have provided tens of
thousands of skilled, volunteer labour
hours and millions of dollars in cash
and in-kind donations to Habitat for
Humanity’s housing projects across the
country. To extend their commitment
to developing safe and healthy housing
solutions for Canadian families in need,
The Home Depot Canada Foundation
recently made a three-year commitment
to support sustainable community
development through the 360 Built Smart
Partnership. They are joined by Holcim
(Canada) Inc., who has also made
significant financial and in-kind
contributions towards the program.
Together, these organizations will
encourage and empower their employees to
take a leadership role in their communities
by volunteering on build sites or on local
boards and committees. As business
leaders, they believe in going beyond the
bottom line to help lead our country
toward a better future.
“Before a family can set their sights on
where they’re going, they must first have
a place to begin. We believe that a home is
a starting point; a safe place where people
and their ideas thrive. The transformation
that we can ignite, whether through a
single home, or through thousands of
homes, truly is profound and enduring,”
Peg Hunter, Vice President, Marketing and
Communications, The Home Depot
Canada and Secretary, The Home Depot
Canada Foundation.
Together, we are calling on Canadians
and Canadian organizations to support the
360 Built Smart Partnership program to
ensure lasting change for families in need.
THE RIPPLE EFFECT STARTS WITH YOU
The 360 Built Smart Partnership will be
a powerful movement to drive change, but
we can’t do it alone. We are now calling
on the support of all Canadians. Donate
to the 360 Built Smart Partnership and
bring about transformation to families and
communities across the country that will
impact generations to come. Donate now
online at habitat.ca, by calling 1-800-667-
5137 ext. 230, or by completing the reply
card included with this newsletter.
Bridging Personal
Volunteerism
and Corporate Social
Responsibility
Jean-Maurice Forget
General Manager, Demix Agrégats (Holcim Canada)
Administrator, Habitat for Humanity Montreal Board of Administrators
HUNG ON THE refrigerator of a nearly-completed Habitat for Humanity
Montreal house was a photo of the family that would soon move in. For me,
just this simple image made everything that I had heard about Habitat for
Humanity seem so much more tangible – the fact that a real family would
experience a real transformation within the walls around me. That they would
become homeowners and create a legacy impacting generations to come.
I passionately believe in the work of Habitat for Humanity Canada, so when
their Montreal affiliate asked for my volunteer support, I agreed whole-heartedly.
I now serve on their board of administrators, working with a dedicated and
skilled group that is focused on building the affiliate’s capacity.
Benefitting from our work are people like Abdellatif Aabid, who moved
his family from Morocco to Montreal eight years ago in hopes of a better life.
An engineer in Morocco, he was able to find work relatively quickly, but was
unable to secure either safe and affordable rental accommodation or financing
to purchase a home. It was then that Abdellatif turned to Habitat for Humanity
Montreal. I later found out that it was a photo of the Aabid family that I had
noticed on the refrigerator of the build site I had visited.
My passion for Habitat for Humanity is one of the reasons I am proud to work
for Holcim Canada, an organization that also supports the cause with great
dedication. Since 2003, Holcim Canada has been a charitable partner of Habitat
for Humanity Canada, committing more recently to becoming a 360 Built Smart
Partnership Title Sponsor. I find it extremely fulfilling to be able to manage this
partnership for Holcim in Quebec, a region of great potential for Habitat’s work
and permanent impact.
Paul Ostrander, CEO of Holcim Canada, said last October, “no longer
does corporate giving involve an arm’s-length financial donation that gets
logged in the books as another transaction and nothing more.” Gone are the
days of hollow corporate social responsibility. Today “partnership” means so
much more, and I can say from experience that we’re all better for it. Our
communities will not improve by themselves and many Canadian families,
despite their best efforts, have not been able to break free of the cycle of
poverty on their own.
Through their homeownership program, Habitat for Humanity provides
families with the tools they need to be confident and proud homeowners who
are able to contribute to and better their communities. This is the same line of
thinking that we apply at Holcim Canada, as we seek to build our employees’
pride and sense of ownership in the company with every opportunity.
For me, it is inspiring to be part of Habitat both personally and professionally.
I know that with the continued combined support of Holcim and its employees,
our impact on communities and what it means to be “socially responsible” will
continue to be undeniable.
6 THE HABITAT SPIRIT Spring/Summer 2011
To donate, to advocate or participate visit www.habitat.ca 7