Online Auction Fundraiser for 10th Build in Yorkton!

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Don’t miss out!

Our Habitat Yorkton Chapter has an online auction fundraiser to help raise proceeds to build our 10th home in Yorkton from February 6th-11th. Take a look at their auction page to view all of the amazing prizes to be won and to place your bids. The online auction can be found here.

By bidding on the items, you are helping a family build strength, stability and self-reliance through affordable homeownership.  The families we serve in Yorkton depend on people within our community across Saskatchewan for Habitat to build them a safe place to call home.  You don’t necessarily have to live in Yorkton to help out that community, as Habitat builds in many different locations across Saskatchewan and welcomes the help of all people. 

I am sure you have heard the saying, “it takes a village,” and not only does it take a village, but it takes time, especially when our non-profit organization is spread so far!

The pandemic made it painfully clear how important it is to have a safe and decent home and that far too many people don’t have the homes they need.  As we face continued economic and societal uncertainty, it is more important than ever that we help lift each other up. But we are also at a pivotal moment for housing affordability in this country, and we must harness to implement solutions that result in more families having safe and affordable places to call home.

Our housing crisis needs all hands on deck, not just the Government’s hands but people in our communities as well.  This is the time to move forward together and help create housing solutions for the low-income individuals and families who are counting on us. Let’s do this together!

You can check out Habitat for Humanity Yorkton’s Facebook page to see all of the great things they are doing as a volunteer group for Habitat Saskatchewan at https://www.facebook.com/YorktonHabitat.

Thank you for continuing to support charities that help families in need!  Your contributions do not go unnoticed!

Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan is Seeking Board Members

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Join our Board!

Be part of a dynamic volunteer group of highly talented, dedicated, and accomplished individuals from a variety of relevant sectors, who are committed to helping Habitat Saskatchewan accomplish its mission.

Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan is currently seeking interested individuals to join our volunteer Board of Directors. Habitat Saskatchewan provides opportunities for working low-income families to access safe, decent, and affordable housing through homeownership as a means of breaking the cycle of poverty in Saskatchewan. The Board of Directors helps to set the direction and attract resources to enable Habitat Saskatchewan to broaden its impact.

Are you interested in becoming a member?

We are currently looking for up to three new Directors to join our provincial board. The ideal candidates we are looking for are, as follows:

  • Current non-profit board experience
  • Well-established in the community and a “connector” able to open doors in the business community
  • Respected in your field
  • Skills sets required: Finance, legal, banking, and business

We value Diversity and Inclusion!

Habitat Saskatchewan values diversity and inclusion and is a key to our success which is reflected in our largely diverse community of Habitat families.  We believe that diversity and inclusion is our responsibility, and we are open to creating a more diverse volunteer board. Diversity to Habitat Saskatchewan not only includes race and gender identity, but also age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and many other parts of one’s identity. All our employees’ and board members’ points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility.

If you are interested in gaining more information about the volunteer opportunity or to apply, please contact board@habitatsask.ca.

 

Habitat Saskatchewan Appoints Interim Chief Executive Officer

January 24, 2023 – The Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan Board of Directors announces that Gary Gurtler is appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer effective March 1, 2023. Mr. Gurtler has worked for Habitat in a variety of roles, most recently as Director, Prince Albert Region and Provincial ReStores and also as Interim Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Prince Albert.

“Gary is absolutely committed to Habitat’s mission, is deeply knowledgeable about all aspects of Habitat’s operations, and is well respected by his peers and partners”, stated Bruce Anderson, Chair of the Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan Board of Directors. Mr. Gurtler was appointed after the resignation of Denis Perrault as Chief Executive Officer which is effective February 28, 2023.

“The merger of the three affiliates into one provincial affiliate had many challenges but is largely completed. Denis Perrault provided outstanding leadership and critical decision-making during the intensive time of the merger and has set a path for Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan to grow and provide more families with affordable housing. We are grateful for Denis’s contributions, but I know he is looking forward to some downtime and to pursue other interests”, offered Anderson.

The Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan Human Resources Committee, with the assistance of Affective Consulting, is currently conducting a search for a permanent Chief Executive Officer.

For media inquiries or information on the Chief Executive Officer search, please contact:

Bruce Anderson, Board Chair

Tel: (306) 539-6311

Email: ceosearch@habitatsask.ca

 

New Survey Findings Reveal Attitudes on Homeownership and the Housing Affordability Crisis

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Habitat for Humanity Canada has released the results of a new national survey revealing Canadians’ attitudes towards the affordable housing crisis in Canada and sheds light on the growing barriers to housing and homeownership. The Habitat for Humanity Canada Affordable Housing Survey, which measured the perceptions of Canadian homeowners and renters, also sheds light on the growing concerns and barriers to homeownership including lack of housing supply, increased cost of living, discrimination, NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) sentiment and more.

Habitat Canada’s Affordable Housing Survey finds housing affordability is a top concern for Canadians – the third most important issue facing the country today behind inflation and healthcare.

“This survey underscores how deeply concerned Canadians are about their housing situations and futures as affordable housing becomes increasingly out of reach,” says Julia Deans, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. “To address these growing concerns and make affordable housing and homeownership a reality for all Canadians, we need an all-in approach from non-profits, corporate partners, individuals and all levels of government.” Click here to read the media release.

“In our work, we see firsthand how access to stable housing transforms futures and fosters resiliency across generations,” says Deans. “We must act now, and we must act together towards addressing the systemic barriers and creating sustainable solutions to achieve affordable housing for all.”

Click here to read more about Habitat Canada’s housing solutions.

About the survey

Habitat for Humanity Canada commissioned Leger’s online panel to survey 1501 Canadians between September 7th and September 17th, 2022. A probability sample of 1501 respondents would have a margin of error of ±2.5%, 19 times out of 2.

A Habitat Family Story

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Ta and Sah Blu tell us how they feel about becoming a Habitat partner family.  Please watch the video to get a tidbit about their story https://youtu.be/B2dpevbxh8s.

The details below give us a better understanding of what they went through in their life, which is very compelling.  Partnering with this family and giving them the opportunity at homeownership was a no-brainer for Habitat Saskatchewan.

This is what Ta and Sah Blu wanted to share about their story:

“Forced to leave behind everything we knew, we escaped from the civil war in Myanmar. Displaced from our homes, we dreamed of growing roots again. Like you, we wanted the opportunity to build a normal life – have a job, own a home, and start a family.

After 14 long years in the refugee camp, one of our applications to immigrate to Canada was accepted and the other to the USA.  We were thrilled to be finally leaving the refugee camp, but now we were going to be separated from each other.

We never gave up on each other or the plans we had made. Our commitment to our dream kept us strong and we were reunited five years later.  We were so relieved to be together again, even if it meant sharing a small home with our parents and many siblings. There wasn’t much space for 10 people in the modest house, and soon there would be even less space as we were expecting our first child, Michelle.

When Michelle turned two years old, our second daughter, Milda, was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Spina bifida is a birth defect where the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly. Most children with spina bifida have some weakness or paralysis in their legs. Hydrocephalus is a buildup of fluid around the brain, which squashes surrounding brain tissue. In some cases, this can cause spasms and brain damage.

Much of our hard-earned savings would have to go toward getting the equipment that Milda needed to grow and play comfortably. It seemed like owning a home would never be possible.

When we heard about Habitat’s homeownership program, we knew it would be just the little support we needed to stand on our own, and we needed to get out of the house we were living in because it was not wheelchair accessible. It was amazing when we met with Habitat, they told us they could help with our accessibility needs for Milda and could give us a chair lift as well.

We still remember the day we received the life-changing phone call. We had been accepted to become Habitat homeowners!

Knowing that our family will be safe, we never have to be apart again, and our kids will have the freedom to live their lives with security, means the world to us.  So, thank you so much for helping our family, our lives will be forever changed!”

We always have an opportunity to help someone like Ta and Sah Blu’s family.  There are many low-income families in Saskatchewan that are in need of a safe, decent and affordable place to call home.  The goal is to set these families up with a chance at affordable housing in Regina and around Saskatchewan in hopes that this will help their children be successful in their journey through life.

In order for us to continue to help families such as Ta and Sah Blu’s, our charity requires donations from the community, at our ReStores, and through organizations and corporate donations. Any donation big or small is appreciated and goes a long way – it takes a village!  If you feel connected to our mission and would like to donate to our organization, check out our donation section on our website https://habitatsaskatchewan.ca/donate/.

What if everyone in Canada had a safe and affordable place to call home?

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As seen on Habitat Canada’s news channel – https://habitat.ca/en/news: 

As we mark National Housing Day on November 22 and as the housing affordability crisis deepens and further divides Canadians, it is time for us to recognize that our communities are in trouble, with too many people struggling to stay properly housed.

Forty per cent of Canadians are concerned about being able to pay their rent or mortgage over the next 12 months, according to Habitat for Humanity Canada’s Affordable Housing Survey. And four in five worry about having to spend less on food, savings, transportation and/or debt payments to pay for the roof over their heads.

Looking at generational differences, millennials are more than twice as likely as boomers to worry about paying rent or mortgages. Millennials make up the largest percentage of renters in Canada and they are the most pessimistic that Canada’s housing woes can be solved. That’s not too surprising, given that millennials are adults with young kids and established careers who expected that, by now, they would have the kinds of things their parents had – like an affordable home.

Now consider those most affected by the housing crisis – people who are finding it harder than ever to access stable, safe and affordable housing and put food on the table – and for whom homeownership has always been out of reach. Sixty-eight per cent of Canadian food bank users live in market rentals and, according to Food Banks Canada, they list housing costs as one of the top drivers of their food bank usage. It’s no wonder – the average rent in Canada was up 15.4 percent over the previous year, bringing the average monthly total to $2,024 a month.

Every aspect of the housing continuum – from homeless shelters to affordable housing, market rentals and homeownership – is under increasing strain, making it impossible for people to move along it. We must invest in all types of housing, and tackle the barriers to getting it built: zoning laws that don’t allow density and increased supply; municipal red tape that ties up developments, including affordable housing, for years; and the lack of affordable land. Municipalities that are increasing density, making it easier to build housing, and designating land for affordable housing will reap the benefits of having vibrant, prosperous and inclusive communities.

The issue of housing also divides neighbourhoods. Half of Canadians we asked felt that Not In My Backyard or NIMBY sentiment is one of the main barriers to making affordable housing available in neighborhoods, and 71 per cent agreed that ‘people worry about the impact of affordable housing on their property values and neighborhood’. Yet time and time again, studies show that well integrated affordable housing does not negatively affect property values and can actually benefit them. Canadians need to rethink their assumptions about what makes for a thriving neighbourhood and embrace the upsides of communities where everyone can live. After all, who wants to live in a place where vital and familiar services aren’t available because the staff they need have nowhere to live?

What Canadians do agree on is that housing matters. Let’s start there. We all need an affordable place to call home. And three-quarters of Canadians believe that more affordable housing could solve the social issues we are facing as a country. They’re right.  If we come together to address the housing crisis, we will be better positioned to solve other societal issues. Having access to a home with an affordable and stable cost – whether it is through rent or a mortgage – allows people to build financial stability. The experience of Habitat homeowners shows that when people no longer have to worry about whether to pay rent or put food on the table, they can focus on improving their economic opportunities, pursue additional education, and save for their child’s education. Knowing that 75 per cent of Canadians believe that too, is a hopeful sign that things will change.

We are a country of communities, and we all have a stake and a role to play in making our communities prosperous, welcoming, and inclusive, with safe and affordable homes for all. This is going to take an all-in approach from non-profits, businesses, and all levels of government, and the support and encouragement of individuals. We are all accountable for building better communities.

A better Canada begins with housing. And better housing begins with all of us.