Habitatforhumanityedmonton web

1991 - 2016

Celebrating

25

Years

25 Years

Always Thinking Families First 69

1991 - 2016

Celebrating

25

Years

H

abitat for Humanity has been privileged to serve families in Edmonton since 1991.

Over the past 25 years, we have seen the spirit of neighbour-helping-neighbour transform the lives of over 450 families and has touched the lives of tens of thousands of volunteers. Families move into a stable living environment and are able to set a firm foundation for the next generation. They are able to dream again because they have a safe and decent place where they can lay their heads at night – on terms they can afford to pay. Habitat for Humanity does not build homes and hope alone. We rely on strategic partnerships to help us carry out our mission of providing affordable home ownership to low-income families. We are truly blessed to serve in a generous community that values charity, embodies hope and exudes love, kindness, and neighborliness.

ALFRED NIKOLAI, PRESIDENT & CEO OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY EDMONTON

Our charity finished building the first Edmonton home in 1992. We built one to two homes for families each year. Things began to change when in 2009 we handed a family keys to the 100th home. Since that time, we’ve given a “hand up” to over 350 families – a total of 450 families since our inception. Our success has only been possible due to the consistent support of individuals, corporations, governments and the community. We hope all Edmontonians share our pride in what has been accomplished in our great city.

As the largest Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Canada, we value the support we receive to continue transforming families’ lives.

How the Habitat for Humanity Edmonton Program Works Habitat for Humanity Edmonton (HFHE) builds homes for hardworking families who need to move from an unstable living situation into affordable home ownership. Prospective families apply to the program and must meet eligibility requirements in order to qualify. Once a family has completed 500 hours of sweat equity and has moved into their HFHE home, they pay an interest-free mortgage with payments that never exceed 25 per cent of their household income. HFHE reinvests each family’s mortgage payment into the revolving Fund for Humanity, which is used to build more homes and serve more families. The more homes that HFHE builds, the closer they move towards being a charity that is completely self-sustainable. If a family’s life situation changes and they decide to move on from the program, they sell their home back to HFHE for the exact amount that they have paid in mortgage payments. HFHE then sells that house to another qualified partner family, and the cycle continues.

All fundraising administration costs are funded by the proceeds of ReStore, HFHE’s social enterprise. ReStore accepts donations of new and gently-used building materials and home improvement items and sells them to the general public at a highly discounted rate. This allows HFHE to allocate all donations towards building homes and serving families.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY EDMONTON | 25 YEARS | 2

Bank Trust Wealth Management

Lending a hand. It’s what neighbours do.

CWB is proud to support the important work of Habitat for Humanity Edmonton. Congratulations to the Habitat team, volunteers and community on 25 years! cwbank.com A CWB Group Company

The Name In

Active Adult Living With over 35 years of experience creating award winning multi-family urban villages for adults and seniors, Christenson Group of Companies has been providing Edmonton and surrounding area with more than just a home.

MORE TIME MORE CHOICE

MORE FREEDOM

Christenson Group of Companies continues to be a proud supporter of Habitat for Humanity.

CDLHomes.com

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY EDMONTON | 25 YEARS | 3

1991 - 2016

Celebrating

25

Years

FAMILIES

F

or 25 years Habitat for Humanity Edmonton (HFHE) has been honoured to provide families with an opportunity to move from an unstable living situation into affordable home ownership. The program creates the possibility for generational change, as children are able to start off life on a solid foundation. HFHE partner families are hard-working single parents or two-parent families with a dream of a better future for their children. Prospective families apply to the program. Each is carefully screened and must meet eligibility criteria before being selected.

In order to qualify for the HFHE program, families must: • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada (living in Canada for a minimum of three years), and also be a resident of the community for which they are applying for a minimum of one year • Have at least one child under the age of 18 living at home • Have not previously owned a home • Have one adult employed full-time year round • Have a gross family income between $32,000 – and $64,500* annually in order to carry the interest-free mortgage (*range may vary between communities) • Be willing to partner with HFHE by agreeing to work 500 hours in place of a cash down payment • Agree to follow all HFHE policies

To learn more about our program, please visit HFH.org.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY EDMONTON | 25 YEARS | 4

HAPPY 25 ANNIVERSARY! TH

Thank you to all at Habitat for the great work you do serving families and building stronger communities. ~ Bill and Paulette Winter and Family

Serving communities.

Changing lives.

What matters to you matters to us.

At EY, we’re proud to support Habitat for Humanity Edmonton. A better world begins when we all build together.

Visit ey.com/ca

© 2016 Ernst & Young LLP. All Rights Reserved. ED None

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY EDMONTON | 25 YEARS | 5

1991 - 2016

Celebrating

25

Years

25 YEARS OF BUILDING STRONG

T

here is nothing quite like the volunteer experience at Habitat for Humanity Edmonton (HFHE). Volunteers see, hear, smell, taste and touch our program. The results are tangible; hope becomes tangible. Volunteers see tears of joy at a key ceremony, hear the sound of a hammer echoing across a build site, smell freshly cut wood, taste a shared meal during lunch break, feel the warmth of a “thank you” embrace and witness a child’s face as they see their bedroom door open for the first time. We build homes and hope. It’s what we’ve been doing for 25 years. It’s what we’ll always do.

HFHE volunteers are provided with everything they need for a safe, fun day of work – including proper PPE (personal protective equipment), safety training and lunch. Whether using a nail gun or skill saw, stocking shelves at ReStore, or landscaping, volunteers receive all the training they need to make their day fun and memorable. The Habitat volunteer experience is for people who have never picked up a tool to those who are professional tradespeople. There is a place for every volunteer who wants to help our organization.

A TRUE “HAND UP”

T

his is a story of success, our story, in which my husband and I lived each moment the best we could. My husband and I had been married for five years and had three wonderful children. We were happy, but we were just making ends meet each month. We were living in a townhouse in south Edmonton and the rent was a real struggle for us.

An acquaintance told us about Habitat for Humanity Edmonton (HFHE) and it sounded like something we would qualify for. We put in an application thinking the whole time that it was a long shot, but that it also just felt right. We waited a fair amount of time before we gave up hope on our chances to own any home, let alone a Habitat home. We resigned ourselves to the thought of renting for a long time. The home we were living in was becoming out of our reach as rent was rising. Sure enough, as soon as we stopped waiting, we got the call from Habitat to come in for an interview for a new home. We couldn’t have been more excited. Finally we had the chance to own a home of our own!

To make a long story short, we got the house and our kids grew up with best friends as neighbours. It was a real blessing. In the first 2.5 years of living in our Habitat home we had managed to pay off debt that had been accumulating for quite some time and we were able to live in our home with only our monthly mortgage payment to pay each month. We lived a modest lifestyle but we had everything we needed.

We needed the help of HFHE to get our financial feet under us and we are so grateful to them for giving us the chance to do so. We had a four-to-six-year plan for the Habitat home, and we wanted to get our finances in order and move on so that another family in need could have the same opportunity that we did.

It took us four and a half years to do it, but it happened. Our new home is still a humble home, but we moved in with a generous down payment from the equity of our Habitat home. Except for our mortgage, my family and I are debt free! Really, who can ask for more?

Thank you to all of the people at HFHE and the volunteers who make it possible for families like us to own a home and have such a bright future!

Jessica, Doug & Family

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY EDMONTON | 25 YEARS | 6

All Weather Windows Supporting Habitat for Humanity Edmonton.

All Weather Windows is committed to giving back to the communities in which we operate across Canada. And since our expertise is in helping people create better homes, we are proud to have been a long time supporter of Habitat for Humanity Canada, the not-for-profit organization that helps families move into homes they can afford.

Congratulations on

25

Years

of helping Edmonton and surrounding communities 0001050.23.02.16

Whatever your business, whatever its size, CHS Benefits has got you covered.

Congratulations to Habitat for Humanity Edmonton on 25 great years!

3175 Manulife Place 10180 -101 Street • Carl H. Shields (780)415-5759 • Graham H. Shields (780)415-5754 www.chsbenefitsconsulting.com

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY EDMONTON | 25 YEARS | 7

1991 - 2016

Celebrating

25

Years

HABITAT DAY IN THE CAPITAL REGION THREE HABITAT DAY DONORS DISCUSS THEIR MOTIVATION

Habitat for Humanity Edmonton (HFHE) is the largest Habitat affiliate in Canada and it is largely due to the wonderful support they receive from those in the corporate sector who see philanthropy as part of their business in giving back to the community. We asked the 2016 Habitat Day donors, “What is it about builders giving back that you feel is important to our community and why do you feel it is important to help low-income families who are striving to own their own home?” Their heartwarming answers are below.

6

Reza Nasseri, the Founder and CEO of Landmark Group of Builders says, “My philosophy in life is that we were born with the purpose of leaving this world a better place than we found it. A strong community makes a better world and shelter, after food, is the second most fundamental requirement for a strong and vigorous community. Today’s low-income family is tomorrow’s high-income family who needs a helping hand to get there and contribute to the community to make it better. A strong community is good for the soul and good for the business.”

REZA NASSERI (R), PRESIDENT & CEO OF LANDMARK GROUP OF BUILDERS, PRESENTED HOUSE KEYS TO AN EDMONTON FAMILY IN 2014.

Lloyd Dumonceaux, Vice President of Pacesetter Homes says, “Sometimes all a family needs is an affordable home in a safe community in order to get their feet back on the ground. Pacesetter Homes recognizes this need and believes its contribution to a deserving family is the foundation from which they will grow and flourish. The impact of a stable home is not only profound for the family, but for the community as a whole as those who receive often give back twofold.

“A key component of Pacesetter’s core values is exemplified by our donation of a home to demonstrate that we truly care about people. We have selected a site in a Qualico neighbourhood that is close to new schools and other amenities important to young families. Additionally, we offer our staff the opportunity for team building through this cause, and over a dozen staff have volunteered on various Habitat builds throughout the years – an experience that has unfailingly A STONY PLAIN FAMILY RECEIVED KEYS TO THEIR HABITAT HOME FROM PACESETTER HOMES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH strengthened their commitment and desire to be part of such QUALICO COMMUNITIES IN 2013. a significant initiative.

“As part of Qualico’s long-term vision and mandate, it also recognizes that the corporation has a commitment not only to its employees, but to the community at large, in terms of environmental stewardship, community support and the growth and strength of the fabric of our society. Qualico recognizes that there is a clear connection between the health of Qualico and the health of the communities in which we serve and that drives our commitment to supporting efforts that build stronger communities.

“A community is only as strong as its people. Pacesetter Homes and the Qualico Group strive to be continuing partners in the growth of strong families.”

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY EDMONTON | 25 YEARS | 8

TALLY HUTCHINSON (L), PRESIDENT OF DAYTONA GROUP, PRESENTED KEYS TO A ST. ALBERT FAMILY IN 2011.

Tally Hutchinson is the President of Daytona Group. “Giving someone a key to a new home is a huge moment!” Hutchinson confirms. “This family’s life is about to change in a big way and it’s such an exciting thing to be a part of. I think moving into a new home, especially a first home, is something people never forget and I love that we can help make that happen for a Habitat family.

“A house is the home base of everyone’s life, and it means a lot to me that Daytona Homes can help give a family the security of a home and get them started on their way to a very happy future.

“We’re a family owned company, so we’re really focused on building great homes for families. It’s what our team loves to do. Being able to help out a deserving cause by sharing something we’ve worked so hard on definitely has a positive effect on everyone at Daytona. Giving back is rooted in our company’s values and we’re involved in community programs in every city in which we operate. As a homebuilder, we believe it is our responsibility to help establish strong communities for families, and that’s why Habitat for Humanity is such a perfect fit for us.”

THANK YOU TO OUR 2016 HABITAT DAY IN THE CAPITAL REGION SPONSORS!

RESTORE

ReStore is Habitat for Humanity Edmonton’s (HFHE) social enterprise, which provides funds to cover the charity’s fundraising administration costs. ReStores are retail outlets that accept donations of new and gently-used building materials and home improvement items and sell them to the general public at a highly discounted rate.

HFHE operates three ReStores in Edmonton. Donations to ReStore come from people who are downsizing, spring cleaning, or looking to support a great cause. Corporations and small businesses also donate end-of-the-line products, returns, overstock or even items from a renovation or remodeling. All donations are eligible for a tax receipt. Items can be arranged for pick up by phone or the web.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY EDMONTON | 25 YEARS | 9

ANDERSON GARDENS – 2010

CALDER – 2006 FIRST HOME COMPLETED – 1992

KIRKNESS – 2009

NORWOOD – 2007

NEUFELD LANDING – 2015

THE LARGEST HABITAT BUILD IN CANADIAN HISTORY.

AURORA PLACE – 2012

HELP OPEN THE DOORS TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR HARD-WORKING FAMILIES. Support Habitat for Humanity Edmonton by · Making a cash donation · Donating construction materials · Volunteering · Donating items to ReStore · Hosting a fundraising event · Shopping at ReStore 8210 Yellowhead Trail NW, Edmonton, AB T5B 1G5 Phone: (780) 479-3566 | Fax: (780) 479-0762 | HFH.org HABITAT FOR HUMANITY EDMONTON | 25 YEARS | 10