about Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa
We partner with working families living in Greater Ottawa to help them build and buy their own decent, affordable home through a unique affordable homeownership solution. Since 1993, Habitat GO (formerly known as Habitat National Capital Region), has served 76 families in the Greater Ottawa area, which include over 175 children.
Our vision, mission & values
Vision
A world where everyone has a decent and affordable place to live.
Mission
Habitat for Humanity brings communities together to help families build strength, stability and self-reliance through affordable homeownership.
Our Values
- Embrace Diversity – promote a culture of inclusivity
- Work Together – collaborate and encourage teamwork across all aspects of our organization
- Be Compassionate – practice empathy and create empowering opportunities for others
- Go Beyond – strive for excellence and contribute to growth, improvement and new ideas
- Practice Gratitude – appreciate the impact that donors, volunteers, staff and the community have on our mission
- Have Fun! – contribute to a positive and lighthearted atmosphere and celebrate each other’s successes
The Story of Habitat for Humanity
The idea that became Habitat for Humanity first grew from the fertile soil of Koinonia Farm, a community farm outside of Americus, Georgia, founded by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan.
On the farm, Jordan and Habitat’s eventual founders Millard and Linda Fuller developed the concept of “partnership housing.” The concept centered on those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build decent, affordable houses. The houses would be built at no profit. New homeowners’ house payments would be combined with no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fundraising to create “The Fund for Humanity,” which would then be used to build more homes.
Habitat for Humanity is now a global nonprofit housing organization working in in approximately 70 countries around the world. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Habitat for Humanity Canada now has affiliates in every Canadian province and territory. The Habitat movement first spread to Canada in 1985, when the country’s first Habitat home was built in Winkler, Manitoba. Just two years later, Winnipeg became Habitat for Humanity Canada’s first local Habitat. Today, Habitat Canada is a leading national nonprofit, with 56 local Habitats working in every province and territory. With the help of these local Habitats, volunteers, and Habitat homeowners, Habitat Canada has provided a solid foundation for thousands of families to lead better, healthier lives in Canada and around the world.
Habitat for Humanity GO (Habitat GO) became an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity Canada in 1993. As one of 56 affiliates in Canada, Habitat GO is responsible for raising its own funds, organizing volunteers and building homes in partnership with families in need of affordable housing. The first Habitat GO home was built in 1994.
Potential partner families are low-income, working families living in inadequate housing and who are willing to put in 500 hours (350 hours for single-parent families) of "sweat equity." Habitat homeowners make monthly payments on interest-free mortgages, which are 25% of their family income and includes taxes and insurance. Habitat believes that homeownership will help break the cycle of poverty facing many low-income working families.
Habitat for Humanity does not compete with other builders as Habitat services a clientele who could never afford to buy a house or qualify for a conventional mortgage.
Habitat for Humanity is funded through donations from volunteers, individuals, businesses, service clubs, foundations, manufacturers and distributors. Houses are built by volunteers, skilled trades people and journeymen who are caring individuals, enthusiastic about giving a family "a hand up, not a hand out". Manufacturers and distributors in the construction industry donate their products to help build houses and reduce costs.
The real miracle of Habitat is that it not only changes the lives of the families receiving the house, but it provides a tremendous sense of purpose and fulfillment for many volunteers and supporters.
