With the help of volunteers and Habitat homeowners, Habitat Greater Ottawa (formerly Habitat National Capital Region) builds safe, decent and affordable homes, including single-family and multi-unit houses. Habitat has been building homes in Ottawa since 1993, and has served 76 local families over the last 26 years.
Our Vision
A world where everyone has a decent and affordable place to live.
What We Do
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
2020 – 2024 Strategic Plan Summary
Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa has grown over the past few years from a builder of individual homes to a developer of communities. As we proudly expand the number of Habitat Greater Ottawa families served each year, and increase our outreach to reach new family partners and community stakeholders we have set a roadmap for 2020 of milestones to help us to thrive as leaders in affordable homeownership.
Habitat Greater Ottawa’s five-year Strategic Plan is refreshed every year and aligns with Habitat for Humanity Canada’s National Strategic Plan and the following five pillars.
| Habitat Canada – Five Pillars |
H | Housing Innovation: Identify and breakdown barriers related to the Federation’s ability to serve more families. Stimulate creativity that recognizes regional differences and meets communities’ needs in order to significantly drive homebuilding over the next five years. |
O | Optimal Performance: Optimize organizational capacity and resources while performing within a culture of One Habitat. |
M | Mobilized Leadership: Foster and enable a culture of leadership that will inspire leaders at every level to engage in coordinated and integrated activities with the intention of sustaining growth, continuity and accountability. |
E | Epic Engagement: Provide a platform that ignites action among all stakeholders while significantly raising Habitat for Humanity’s brand and profile in Canada. |
S | Sustainable Funding: Significantly increase revenue generation at the national and local level to serve more families. |
Our 2020 Strategic Plan Milestones
Capacity and Growth
- Increase the number of qualified family applicants by at least 20 percent additional families over and above the number being served in any given year.
- Pursue strategies to increase restricted funding and unrestricted funding.
- Increase the number of families served to 12 per year by 2022 with a target of 20 by 2024
- Maintain a 3 – 5 year land bank.
Awareness and Engagement
- Understand, steward and further leverage the donor market.
- Pursue broader engagement and suitable developer partnerships that will increase our build capacity.
- Better understand the housing client market with a view to increasing awareness and number of qualified applications from this target market.
Resources and Sustainability
- Establish sustainable funding and GIK sources and maintain a thriving ReStores.
- Pursue sustainable practices throughout our operations to ensure the availability of necessary resources.
- Focus on improving build cost efficiencies
The Habitat for Humanity Story
Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 in Americus, Georgia by Millard and Linda Fuller and has since spread to 70 countries around the world. The ongoing involvement of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn, through the Jimmy Carter Work Project that began in 1984, has brought wide-spread global awareness to our organization and its work. Click here for more on the Habitat for Humanity International story.
Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, charitable organization working toward a world where everyone has a decent and affordable place to call home. Habitat for Humanity brings communities together to help families build strength, stability and independence through affordable homeownership. With the help of volunteers, Habitat homeowners and 54 local Habitats working in every province and territory, we provide a solid foundation for better, healthier lives in Canada and around the world. Habitat for Humanity Canada is a member of Habitat for Humanity International, which was established in 1976 and has grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. For more information, please visit www.habitat.ca.
Habitat Greater Ottawa became an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity Canada in 1993. Habitat Greater Ottawa is responsible for raising its own funds, organizing volunteers and building homes in partnership with families in need of affordable housing. The first local home was built in 1994.
The first Habitat ReStore began in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1991 and the concept has since grown to include hundreds of locations across Canada and the U.S. The first ReStore to open in Ottawa was on Walkey Road in 1995.