Manitoba Real Estate Association Helps Transform Vacant Properties into Affordable Homes
15 members of the Manitoba Real Estate Association (MREA) helped breathe new life into vacant properties in preparation for future homeowners during their REALTORS Care® Day. Volunteering with the Manitoba REALTORS® Shelter Foundation, REALTORS® spent their day landscaping at Habitat for Humanity Manitoba renovation sites in Winnipeg’s Fort Garry and St. Boniface neighbourhoods.
At each site, REALTOR® volunteers helped revitalize the property by landscaping, cleaning up the yard and putting the finishing touches on the property’s outdoor spaces as part of Habitat for Humanity Manitoba continued renovations. Their work is supporting the organization’s Affordable Homeownership Through Renovation program, which transforms vacant and abandoned properties into safe, affordable, energy-efficient homes for families.
Habitat’s Affordable Homeownership Through Renovation program gives vacant and tax-sale properties a new purpose by transforming them into homeownership opportunities for families who may otherwise face barriers. By renovating existing homes, Habitat for Humanity Manitoba can bring more properties back into use at a lower cost and in less time than building new, helping families move toward affordable homeownership more quickly. This approach also helps preserve established neighbourhoods and reduces the environmental impact associated with new construction.
These volunteering opportunities were born out of a partnership between the Manitoba REALTORS® Shelter Foundation and Habitat for Humanity Manitoba, in support of the two renovation projects. Through this partnership, REALTORS® are helping transform vacant and abandoned properties into safe, energy-efficient homes, creating more attainable pathways to homeownership. By investing in the renovation and revitalization of existing homes, the partnership is helping bring more affordable housing into established neighbourhoods while giving families the opportunity to build long-term stability.
While this REALTORS Care® Day provided an opportunity for MREA members to give back through hands-on volunteerism, it is just one part of the association’s broader commitment to community and housing initiatives. Through their partnership with the Manitoba REALTORS® Shelter Foundation, MREA members raise funds for charitable organizations supporting shelter-related causes and support the Manitoba Tipi Mitawa program, which helps First Nations families work toward homeownership through education and financial assistance. Through these ongoing efforts, MREA REALTORS® are helping create opportunities for Manitobans to access safe, stable and affordable homes.
