CREA’s Board of Directors Helps Prepare Affordable Housing Units with Habitat for Humanity
On January 24th, members of the Canadian Real Estate Association’s (CREA) Board of Directors volunteered their time to help families in the Ottawa Region build new futures through safe and affordable housing.
Read on to learn how!
In celebration of REALTORS Care® Days uniting REALTORS® across Canada through hands-on volunteering, CREA’s Board of Directors and Leadership came together and rolled up their sleeves to provide a combined 54 hours of volunteer support at the Kemptville Korners build site, a joint project between Habitat for Humanity – Thousand Islands and Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa.
Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa and Habitat for Humanity Thousand Islands builds affordable homes that provide a solid foundation for families in the Ottawa valley, Brockville, and surrounding region . The Kemptville Korners site is a 15-unit development located in an established community near parks, schools, stores, and the district hospital. When completed the townhomes will be a safe and stable place that 64 individuals from the Ottawa and Thousand Islands regions, including over 30 children, will call home.
“CREA’s Board of Directors was thrilled to help Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa get these affordable homes ready for 15 families,” shared CREA Chair-Elect, James Mabey, “Today was a very rewarding experience, and I encourage REALTORS® across the country to volunteer their time at a REALTORS Care® Day when they get the opportunity.”
“Today was a very rewarding experience, and I encourage REALTORS® across the country to volunteer their time at a REALTORS Care® Day when they get the opportunity.”
The volunteers started their day with an introduction on how, across Canada, Habitat for Humanity is changing the lives of families through supportive home ownership while also learning how to safely use the equipment needed for the day’s activities.
They then split into smaller groups and got to work placing fireproof siding on exteriors , strapping ceilings, and cutting and delivering materials into the townhouses that, come July 2024, 15 families will call home.
“Our studies show that Habitat children are 14 times more likely to go to post-secondary school and to not be reliant on social housing in the future,” shared Shawna Blanchard, Director of Fund Development with Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa. “What REALTORS Care® [CREA] today is doing is more than just bricks and mortar, it’s helping create generational success and support our families to create the equity they need to have the financial stability of owning a home.”
“Our studies show that Habitat children are 14 times more likely to go to post-secondary school and to not be reliant on social housing in the future.”
By the end of the day, members of CREA’s Board of Directors had supported construction activities in eight of the affordable housing units, and the Kemptville Korners development was one step closer to completion. Sixty-four members of the Ottawa community are also now one step closer to safe and affordable housing, thanks to the efforts of these REALTORS®.
“We’re hoping that REALTORS® participate from all parts of the country and get in contact with their boards and associations to find out when their REALTORS Care® Day is going to be, so that they can participate so that we can show, united across the country, how much REALTORS® care about their communities,” shared CREA Chief Executive Officer, Janice Myers.
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