We’d rather build it than clean it! That's certainly what the Women Build of 2011 accomplished! From June 2011 to October 2011, over 140 volunteers contributed to the Women Build 2011 Project at 439 York Rd. in Guelph. Combined they contributed a whopping 3000 hours of volunteering and 87% of the house was completed by Women!
Women Build 2011
2012 is here and the Women Build is back. We are kicking off the year in style!
January 13th and February 24th, Women Build is inviting you to join them at the Sleeman Centre to help cheer on the Guelph Storm. Tickets for the event can be purchased on the HFHWC website for $15. There will be a 50/50 draw to help support Woomen Build, so wear your PINK and come out and rally your Guelph Storm!
Also, as Women Build will be hosting a Wine & Cheese Recruitment evening at Cutten Fields (190 College Ave. E) on January 19th from 7-9. Women Build Committee members are welcoming individuals interested in joining a Women Build committee out to enjoy some wine and cheese and hear about the wonderful experiences of the 2011 project. If you've thought about joining the powerful movement that's sweeping the city, now is the perfect chance!
Typically women only represent 1/3 of the volunteers on Habitat for Humanity build sites, so the Women Build aims to promotes women as leaders and provides an opportunity for women to learn new trades or skills, under the direction of both men and women skilled tradespersons. Women Build is not about excluding men, but including more women in the building process.
“It’s about spirit, empowerment, solidarity, fun, learning and pride in working with a family to build a place they can call home.”
Habitat for Humanity Wellington County is holding a Build Launch event on January 14th 2012 at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex in Fergus from 12 to 2. The Centre Wellington Build Committee is holding this launch event in support of the construction of a semi-detached house at 124 Forfar Street in Fergus, which will be built this spring and summer! It will be the first build project in Centre Wellington since 2003.
“We are thrilled to be building in Fergus again, for there are a lot of residents of this town that are deserving of the sustainability and structure homeownership can provide them,” said Diane Nelson, Executive Director of HFHWC.
Currently, there are 2,965 Social Housing Units in Wellington County. As of December 2007, 1370 applicants were on the waiting list.
§Average wait times in 2008 for 1 bedroom (through social housing) in Wellington County was 3 to 5 years
§2 and 3 bedrooms hovering around a 2 year wait time
“Our government is committed to helping people who live on lower or fixed incomes stay in their home communities,” said MPP Sandals.
With 1.7 million Canadian families living without adequate housing
Over half a million Canadians paying more than 50% of their household income on shelter and food
Just under 5 million Canadians (15.9%) having incomes below the Low-Income Cut-Off
2010 House on Bagot St.
Habitat for Humanity Wellington County is doing their part to help two very deserving families become homeowners.
“Habitat for Humanity provided me a hand up by giving me the ability to lend my hand out to others,” said Melanie Fegan, Habitat Partner Family of the Elora home.
In order to make the dream of a home a reality for a Centre Wellington family, we need you! So please visit us at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex from 12 to 2 on January 14, 2012 and find out more about volunteering, becoming a Partner family and sponsoring the build!
Habitat for Humanity Wellington County would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! With Santa making his yearly rounds in just a few days, hopefully all the presents have been bought and greeting cards have been sent out.
Inbox Marketer is a local company that generously donates their email deployment services year round to help Habitat for Humanity Wellington County continually provide HFHWC news and ReStore sales to you. This year Inbox Marketer has created a special Holiday Christmas Card and pledge to make a donation to Habitat for Humanity Wellington County for every click you make! So please take a minute and send one more holiday greeting, simply go to Inbox Marketer's Christmas Card enter your name and email address and click on the link to help Habitat for Humanity grow a house this holiday season.
With the busy holiday season here, more and more people are looking to online shopping to buy all their holiday presents. This year why not give back while giving gifts and use Shop and Share.ca. This online shopping website was launched in August 2009 and makes giving back to local charities easier than ever. A portion of the money spent online gets donated to the charity of your choice.
Founder and CEO Richelle Skrilec started this program to reinvigorate the fundraising landscape throughout the nation.
There are three simple steps to create an account and then you’re ready to shop.
There are more than 200 stores on Shop and Share.ca from flowers and beauty to clothes, electronics, toys and more! Once you have selected the store you wish to shop at the site then getting redirects you to the online retailer and you can start shopping. And the great part, the products you purchase don’t cost anymore than they would at the store! So all those who are looking to give back this holiday season can without putting any extra strain on their pocketbook, Skrilec explains...
"Everyone feels more charitable at Christmas but not everyone is able to give, especially with extra expenses during the holidays. We're offering an easy way to support your favourite charity when buying gifts and making purchases you would normally make anyway."
Each retailer on Shop and Share.ca donates a percentage of the amount purchased to the charity. Once Habitat for Humanity Wellington County has received a minimum of $50 worth of donation credits from online purchases made by people like you, Shop and Share.ca will send us a cheque to help fund the building of affordable housing.
We invite you to check out Shop and Share. You have the ability to add power to your purchases this Holiday Season and help make deserving families' dreams of decent homes, rewarding realities. You have the ability in...Helping Dreams Grow, One Purchase at a Time.
As a mother of two active school-aged children, I quickly became frustrated with traditional fundraisers. It seemed like we were always being asked to sell and/or purchase items that no one wanted or needed - just to support our local school, sports teams, etc. Plus, as a volunteer with numerous organizations, I spent substantial time and energy helping with some of the fundraisers, counting money, photocopying forms, compiling orders, etc. And, although I knew I was helping to make a difference in our community, I also knew that there had to be an easier way to raise money given the increasing popularity of online shopping. After a great deal of brainstorming and research, the 'Shop and Share.ca' concept was born.
And the power is certainly helping Habitat for Humanity Wellington County. From December 7th to the 8th, Team Depot Guelph was on-site, volunteering at our 28 Huron Street build in Guelph. There were 11 team members all eager and excited to help build homes for two deserving families.
The Home Depot Canada and Habitat for Humanity have a long-standing relationship built on the shared commitment to ensuring Canadian families in need of adequate housing gain access to safe, decent and affordable homes. The Sustainable Housing Grant Program encompasses both sustainable building and social responsibility for green building. This refers to building using a process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. Some of the techniques and build components Habitat for Humanity Wellington County has incorporated to make this a sustainable build include;
·Use of spray foam insulation in walls to reduce energy consumption
·Use of R50 attic insulation to reduce energy consumption
·Argon gas windows for optimal thermal performance
·Energy Star qualified hot water tank – 67 efficiency
·High efficiency furnace- 95% efficiency EMC motor
·Effective ventilation – HRV unit 75% efficiency
In 2011, The Home Depot Canada Foundation again held the Buy a Hammer, Build Our Community campaign. At any The Home Depot locations, customers could purchase a 'paper hammer' for $2, which would help build affordable housing and stronger, more sustainable communities. All of the funds raised supported local community-benefit organizations including Habitat for Humanity.
Home Depot's Sheila Fildes presents a cheque to HFHWC's Diane Nelson
In addition to the Sustainable Building Grant and the Buy a Hammer, Build Our Community campaign, The Home Depot Canada Foundation is a titled sponsor in the Habitat for Humanity 360 Built Smart Partnership. This is a national initiative that drives funding to support all aspects of the need for affordable housing, including sustainable community development.
Sustainable community development is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Canadian Auditor General Act
The 360 Build Smart Partnership is dealing with sustainable community development by;
·Building ‘greener’ homes and reducing our environmental impact
·Creating authentic collaboration and fostering leadership
·Creating local leaders and stronger connections to the community
·Reduction of CO2 emissions
·Promoting the ReStores
As we enter the middle of December, we begin to look toward the New Year and all of the exciting new and continuing projects we have in the works. 2012 will prove to be a very thrilling year as because Habitat for Humanity Wellington County was awarded a $25,000 grant from the 360 Built Smart Partnership and we will use this funding for an exciting project that will allow us to attract more famillies to partner with us in the search for decent housing! STAY TUNED!
Finally, we want to take a few words to share a heart-felt thank you to all associates at The Home Depot Guelph for their commitment to sell Paper Hammers throughout the month of June and the same dedication they've displayed helping us build two homes and provide a sustainable future for two richly-deserving families. A special thanks to the leader of The Home Depot Guelph associates, Store Manager, Sheila Fildes. It's been a true pleasure to partner with Sheila on many projects throughout the past year and we're thrilled she has an unwavering commitment to Habitat for Humanity.
Even 13 years after homelessness was considered a national disaster homelessness and affordable housing are still ever-present issues for millions of people across Canada. This November 22nd is National Housing Day, a day to promote and create discussion surrounding Affordable Housing.
"There is an urgent need in Canada and around the world for affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity Canada's goal is to increase the number of affordable homes we build, but we cannot solve the housing crisis alone," said Stewart Hardacre, President and CEO, Habitat for Humanity Canada.
Habitat for Humanity Canada is launching their National Leadership Council and a National Platform on Affordable Housing, where they are encouraging fellow Canadians to sign their names. The platform can be found at http://www.habitat.ca/affordable-housing-platform-c2164.php and for every signature MCAP Service Corporation will be making a $5 donation to Habitat for Humanity. Also, The Weather Network has dedicated their homepage to reflect Habitat for Humanity Canada’s efforts in promoting their affordable housing platform. This platform will help to demonstrate awareness and support for affordable housing.
The evening of Tuesday, November 15th, 2011 was unseasonably warm and very pleasant. There was crispness in the air that provided the perfect weather for a very special event, the most special event that Habitat for Humanity Wellington County will hold in their calendar year.
For this night was the culmination of months of hard-work, friendship building and unwavering commitments. The Women Build of HFHWC could triumph over their extraordinary contributions to the construction of the Women Build project house at 439 York Rd.
My favourite photo from the Project
Although the Women Build volunteers reflected on shared moments, herculean efforts and companionship, the primary reason over fifty Women Build contributors filled the newly constructed home was to see Kiran officially become it's rightful homeowner!
MPP Liz Sandals speaks in rather tight quarters at House Dedication
The House Dedication is an honoured ceremony for Habitat for Humanity because it evokes a sense of joy shared by staff, volunteers and sponsors. More importantly, the Dedication presents the Habitat Partner Family the keys to their much deserved home and signifies a better life ahead to all the habitants of a house built from love.
On this night, Kiran and her two daughters not only became homeowners but they also became neighbours and part of a community they so richly longed for. The Women Build Site Supervisor, Sharon Lewis, presented Kiran the keys and so closed the book on a journey filled with commitment, laughter, friendship and dedication.
As both Kiran and Women Build Volunteers would attest to, Sharon Lewis is an exceptional woman that did an exceptional job. Without her leadership and dedication, the house wouldn't look nearly as great as it does. Day in and day out, she provided leadership and friendship as well.
Can you believe this house was primarily built by volunteers?
To all Women Build contributors; although many of you may think your donation or contribution is relatively small, our organization holds it to the highest regard and your ability to show your commitment to our mission allows us to keep fighting the good fight. So, if you donated a lunch or "Adopted a day" or sponsored a Women Build event or donated your professional skills, thank you.
To our Women Build committees; your guidance and perseverance were the bonding screws (see what I did there?) that led this project to completion. What often seems like "behind the curtain" work is cherished by all of Habitat for Humanity Wellington County.
Finally, to the Women Builders that knew no limits, knew no extremes and backed down from no challenges, we suggest you drive by 439 York Rd from time to time, smile and reflect that over 140 of you contributed nearly 3000 hours and constructed a fabulous home that was built by 87% women. Never forget, that together, your strength, can move mountains.
Yes, that's right, primarily volunteers!
Happy holidays to the extraordianary women of Women Build and remember this holiday season, you helped give the greatest gift of all, a home.
See you in 2012!
P.S. Of course I wasn't going to forget Maddie. She was a tremendous asset throughout the summer and her photos will live forever within our organization.
A Maddie Lee original
P.P.S Here are some inspirational words from a fellow Women Builder, Marlene MacNevin
I just want to thank Habitat for Humanity for having a Woman build. I met some very courageous woman, many who challenged themselves every time they came to build. We all learned skills, realized our potential, learned things about ourselves & about each other. EVERYONE was supportive, encouraging, patient & we were lucky enough to have the best site supervisor you could have hired. It was an honour to build with the owner & to meet such a humble sweet woman. I remember one of the first times I was building on a Saturday, Kiran kept going over to everyone to see if they were "okay", and thanking us at every opportunity. She was so appreciative and often had this worried look on her face, as she was wondering if she was doing her task correctly. Thanks to Sharon we have all learned that almost anything can be fixed. This was a fabulous opportunity & I hope to be involved again soon. In the meantime I will enjoy my involvement on the family selection committee. I want to thank you for being there as well, and encouraging us on.
I hope to see you soon............................you are not going to get rid of me so fast.”
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