Sara Cooper
CEO

Scott Stevenson
Board Chair

a message from leadership

Dear Friends,

In a year marked by rising housing costs, economic uncertainty, and growing demand for affordable housing, Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa remained focused on building opportunities. Opportunities that empower families to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership.

2024 was a year of momentum and growth. Thanks to your generosity and partnership, we proudly completed Kemptville Korners, a 15-unit development in partnership with Habitat Thousand Islands. This milestone marked more than just the end of a successful build; it welcomed our 100th family served!

2024 also marked a year of growth for our ReStores, which continue to be a vital part of our organization and the community. Not only do our ReStores divert usable goods from landfills, but the revenue generated from ReStore operations also funds our efforts to build more homes for more families. With the opening of our new ReStore location at 250 City Centre Avenue in Hintonburg, we’re thrilled to extend our impact even further.

Beyond the build, we partnered with Habitat organizations from across the country at Habitat on the Hill in Ottawa. Together, we met with Members of Parliament from the region to advocate for policy changes aimed at removing the barriers that prevent lower-income and underserved families from achieving homeownership. We were proud to raise our voices alongside other local Habitats, pushing for systemic change and meaningful solutions to the housing crisis.

As we reflect on the past year’s achievements and milestones, the need for affordable housing remains a pressing concern. Over 80% of Ontarians say that owning a home is now out of reach. As a community, we must continue to address and challenge the systems that make homeownership unattainble for so many families.

At Habitat Greater Ottawa, the impact of our work is not measured solely by the number of homes we build but by the families we serve. Behind every door is a family whose future is changed, and whose children will grow up in stability and financial security that will last for generations.

It took over 30 years to reach 100 families served. Now, we’re setting our sights on an ambitious goal: to serve the next 100 families within the next five years. To achieve this, we need you – our sponsors, donors, community partners and volunteers. Your support has helped us get to where we are today. Let’s keep the momentum going.

Thank you to everyone who has generously contributed to our work and for being a part of the Habitat solution. Together, we build a brighter future.

2024

a year of impact

403 volunteers

gave their time and skills to Habitat Greater Ottawa.

15,682 hours

spent by volunteers on the build site, ReStores, committees and events.

$792,378 funds

raised to help build homes in our community.

11
families

opened the doors to their new home in 2024.

over 100

families served with the completion of Kemptville Korners.

ReStore

a good deal for you, the community and the environment!

In 2024, Habitat Greater Ottawa’s ReStores achieved over $2.2 million in sales in store and online, demonstrating the continued strength of our social enterprise model and its critical role in supporting Habitat’s work in the community.

This year also marked our highest environmental impact in the last several years, with an estimated 2.5 million pounds of waste diverted from landfills. The ReStore also saw a notable increase in volunteer engagement, with more hours contributed by our dedicated ReStore volunteers whose time, energy, and enthusiasm keep our operations running strong.

A major highlight was the ReStore Reads Book Fair in August, organized for the first time by a volunteer committee. The two-day event drew over 1,000 customers to our Stittsville store and sold more than 2,500 books!

celebrating our newest ReStore!

Just in time for the holidays, we opened the doors to our third ReStore location at City Centre in Hintonburg. We celebrated with a festive ribbon-cutting ceremony joined by local dignitaries, Habitat staff and volunteers, enthusiastic shoppers—and even Santa! Countless hours and a tremendous amount of effort went into getting the store ready before the end of the year. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our ReStore staff, Habitat Build Crew, and the dedicated volunteers who made it all possible.

Opening a new ReStore is an exciting step forward in growing our organization, providing more shoppers with access to affordable new and gently used home goods (with NO HST), and giving donors a convenient place to drop off their once-beloved items. With this third ReStore location, we can increase our capacity to fund affordable housing for families while building deeper connections with the Ottawa community. It also allows us to divert even more quality goods from local landfills, giving them a second life at the ReStore.

ReStore 2024

by the numbers

12,879 donations

of new & gently used furniture, appliances, home décor, construction materials and more from community and business partners. 

2,175,800 pounds

of waste diverted from local landfill (over 1000 tons!).

4,718 hours

contributed by ReStore volunteers at both locations and at ReStore-related events.

$2.2 million

dollars worth of sales both in store and online. 

119,556 visits

to our Online ReStore, restoregoshop.ca

a better future

starts with a home.

It was a moment of joy, cheers, and even a few happy tears at the Kemptville Korners Key Ceremony. Together with families, sponsors, donors, volunteers, dignitaries and community members, we celebrated not just new homes, but new beginnings.

Since breaking ground in 2022 alongside Habitat Thousand Islands, the Kemptville Korners development has stood as a powerful example of what can be accomplished through true partnership. Built on a foundation of collaboration, community effort, and hard work, this project brought together not only donors, volunteers, and staff, but the families themselves, who invested hundreds of hours volunteering on the build site, at the ReStore and successfully completing financial literacy training, home repair courses, and other related programs. From the first shovel in the ground to the final welcome mat laid, every moment and contribution helped build not just houses, but stability, dignity, and opportunity.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of our Habitat Build Crew and the many dedicated volunteers, Kemptville Korners is now home to 15 families beginning a new chapter in a safe and stable home. Together, we’re not just building homes, we’re creating vibrant neighbourhoods, strengthening communities, and laying the foundation for families to thrive.

The prospect of owning your own home can feel very overwhelming but Habitat for Humanity staff and volunteers were with us every step of the way. It has only been a few months since we moved into our home, but we have already seen countless small and big changes in our lives. We no longer have the anxiety of living paycheque to paycheque and uncertainty of the future. We look forward to being able to save up for our children’s education. My husband and I can also now focus on building our careers.

together we build

good housing policy.

In the fall, we joined forces with Habitat organizations from across the country at Habitat on the Hill in Ottawa, a powerful national advocacy event where Habitat leadership speak directly with Members of Parliament. The delegation met with MPs from across the region to push for policies that would make affordable homeownership more accessible for families, including the removal of GST on new homes for first-time buyers valued up to $1 million, and dedicated, long-term funding to scale affordable homeownership developments. These meetings were an important step in ensuring that community-driven homeownership models were recognized and supported in Canada’s national housing strategy.

As housing costs continue to rise, systemic change is needed not only to increase supply, but to make pathways to ownership more inclusive and attainable. Through advocacy efforts like Habitat on the Hill, we are campaigning for big changes to improve laws, regulations and housing policy to build homes in communities that need them the most.  

together we build

with heart.

Behind every foundation poured, every ReStore sale, and every meaningful community event were the dedicated hands and hearts of our Habitat volunteers.

In 2024, we saw tremendous growth in volunteer engagement across all areas of our work. A total of 403 volunteers (over 100 more than the previous year) contributed 15,682 hours to support our mission. From the construction site to the ReStore floor, our volunteers played a vital role in every success we achieved.

At the ReStore, volunteers dedicated over 7,000 hours, helping us operate two thriving retail locations and the opening of our new City Centre ReStore. On the build site, volunteers helped bring our Kemptville Korners development to completion, while members of our Family Partner Committee provided hands-on support to help families settle into their new homes.

This remarkable increase in volunteer participation reflects the strength of our community and the shared belief that everyone deserves a safe, decent, and affordable place to live.

celebrating service: our inaugural volunteer awards!

For the first time, we proudly presented two prestigious volunteer awards at our 19th annual Gala, celebrating the incredible impact and dedication of our volunteers. These new awards reflect our deep appreciation for the individuals who go above and beyond to support our work.

The Excellence in Action Award was presented to Debbie Choptuik, Chair of our Family Partner Committee, long-time ReStore volunteer, and a dedicated presence at countless community events. Debbie has been volunteering with us for eight years and is always ready to lend a hand wherever it’s needed.

The Leadership Award was awarded to Clyde MacLellan, who has contributed more than two decades of service through his role on the Finance Committee. His leadership and commitment to good governance have been instrumental to our organization’s growth and stability.

These inaugural awards recognize volunteers at the heart of our work and the lasting impact they make in building stronger communities.

“I volunteer at Habitat Greater Ottawa because I want to contribute to something bigger than me. I believe my efforts, whether it’s supporting the families, prepping things at the ReStore or simply spreading the word of what Habitat does in the community all contribute to the mission. I also love working with such fantastic people!”

a record-breaking gala!

Our 19th annual Steel Toes & Stilettos Gala drew our largest and most enthusiastic crowd to date, marking a record-breaking evening of generosity and community spirit. A sold-out audience of 400 guests filled the Trillium Ballroom at the Rogers Centre in November, coming together to raise an incredible $224,500 – a 30% increase from our previous Gala! The night featured inspiring stories, lively entertainment, and moving moments that highlighted the impact of our work and the dedication of our supporters. This unforgettable evening was a true celebration of what we can achieve when we build together.

together we build

community

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in CLV Group and InterRent REIT’s 2024 Mike McCann Charity Golf Tournament. This incredible event raised an astounding $1.8 million in support of local organizations, including a generous $100,000 contribution to Habitat Greater Ottawa. We are especially grateful to CLV Group and InterRent REIT for their continued partnership and commitment to community impact. Their support helps us build safe, secure, and affordable homes for families across Ottawa and the surrounding region.

“We’re proud to be part of a cause that builds homes, communities, and a healthier planet and we look forward to working with the Habitat team for years to come."

A TREE-mendous thank you to Chris a.k.a. The Christmas Tree Guy for raising an amazing $6,700 for Habitat Greater Ottawa in 2024.

For over 20 years, Chris and his incredible team have supported building more safe and affordable housing for local families through its legendary Habitat Christmas.

thank you

to our 2024 supporters

major build sponsors

Pat Kelly Family Foundation

Ottawa Real Estate Board

Canada Real Estate Board

Stantec

Right at Home Realty

Enterprise Rent-a-Car

Travlers

GDH

gala sponsors

Novatech Engineers

Engel & Völkers

KPMG

GGFL Chartered Accountants

Colonnade BridgePort

EH Law

Euro Tile

Bee Clean

BMO

EllisDon

Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP

Mattamy Homes

Cavanagh Construction

Ottawa Builder Sales

Tomlinson

HN Homes

Glenview Homes

BDO Canada LLP

Meridian Credit Union

Laurentian Bank

Dream Unlimited

Huntington Properties

Stantec

hope builder monthly donors

Alain Dawson

Alison Sochasky

Amirah Fayek

Bashir Ahmad

Bruce Fanjoy

Caitlin Neil

Carol Christensen

Chris Boylan

Coulter Peterson

Daniel Weslake

Danielle Robinson

David McBride

David Stitt

Dena Sprinter

Don Barr

Gavin Liddy

Geoff Penner

Isabel Burrows

Jennifer Benedict

Joanne Ironside

John Kuzniarz

Julie Chatelain

Karlee Ouellette

Kelly Elliott

Larry Benedet

Leah Noah

Marc Caron

Mary-Ann Levesque

Maureen Cooke

Melanie Riddell

Murray Chown

Nancy Meloshe

Nancy Lanthier

Patricia Moorehead

Patrick Vienneau

Peter James

Philip Kretzmar

Raymond Martel

Richard Lauzon

Robert Elliott

Ross Beck-MacNeil

Sandra Oey

Sara Cooper

Shawna Blanchard

Scott Stevenson

Susan Winger

Wayne Bennett

Phoenix Homes

2024 audited financial statements

Habitat Greater Ottawa 2024 Impact Report PDF version coming soon.