GUELPH – “Just a little bit more” is Habitat for Humanity Wellington Dufferin Guelph’s current mantra.
“We have just a little bit more work to do at Cityview Village, our current affordable housing development, and then the last eight families can move into their new homes,” said Steve Howard, CEO, Habitat WDG.
“We are asking our community to help us close the gap so we can celebrate the completion of this build and start 2021 with a solid foundation from which to help more families.
“Our plans are already underway for future builds.”
Cityview Village cost of construction since the start of the build in 2017 is $7.8 million. Revenue over the last three years from many different sources has totaled $7,450,000. The final stretch of $350,000 remains to be raised.
Like many businesses and charitable organizations, Habitat WDG has suffered great sales losses during the pandemic, including about $360,000 from ReStore sales.
Habitat WDG also officially cancelled its 2020 Ultimate Habitat House Party, which was scheduled to occur this November. This event had been the signature annual fundraiser for the charitable organization for a number years, raising significant funds to help build housing and promote affordable homeownership as a means of breaking the cycle of poverty.
“The early part of 2020 has brought us some challenges. The loss in revenue from the House Party and our ReStore closures is going to be a big hit to our fundraising bottom line,” said Howard.
Cityview Village was Habitat WDG’s most ambitious build since their incorporation in 2000. Not satisfied with building one home every one or two years, which is the traditional Habitat for Humanity model, Habitat WDG created a vision in 2016 of a community of families and individuals from varying backgrounds and cultures, supporting each other in affordable homeownership, and creating a “village” together.
Community members that partner with Habitat WDG are often lower-income, working families, living in substandard or precarious housing situations. They are accepted through an application and interview process, which requires them to pay an affordable mortgage, and contribute up to 500 volunteer hours to the organization.
Howard said there are hundreds of families in Wellington County, Dufferin County and Guelph who are in need of an affordable place to live.
“We are asking our community members to step up and make a financial commitment to ensure that we can continue to build,” he said.
How to help
Habitat WDG encourages those who are able to consider making a monthly monetary donation by becoming a Hearts for Homes monthly donor.
Donations are being accepted at https://habitatwdg.ca/donate/hearts-for-homes/.
The Habitat ReStores, located in Guelph, Fergus, and Orangeville, are open to the public for shopping and donating, although with modified hours, physical distancing measures and sanitizing procedures, in order to keep the community safe.
Donations of new and gently used items are being gratefully accepted, contact-free, at the back entrance.
Hours and locations are listed at https://habitatwdg.ca/restore/hours-locations/.
Habitat WDG is also searching for property in the Wellington County area to build upwards of 10 more homes.
