Like many of you, Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa has made both big and small changes this past year as we have met head on the unique challenges of a global pandemic that continues to impact us all. Yet despite the interruptions and unexpected outcomes of 2020, we are reminded that with challenges come opportunities. We have taken this time to adapt our operations, grow the number of families we serve and partner with the community as we continue to build affordable homes for local families.
Looking back on 2020 and the adversity we faced, one thing remains the same – our dedication to addressing one of the most pressing issues of our time: the need for safe, decent and affordable housing.
We invite you to look back with us on a year of unprecedented growth, development and achievements. None of which could have been possible without the dedication and support of our volunteers, donors, corporate partners and friends. Join us in celebrating the achievements, big and small that made an impact for Habitat Greater Ottawa in 2020, and take a peek at what’s ahead for us in 2021.
2021 by the numbers
7 families moved into safe, decent and affordable housing
$823,190 raised to help build homes in our community
158 volunteers graciously gave their time to Habitat Greater Ottawa
5025 volunteer hours at our Build Site, ReStores and committees
Add Your Heading Text Here
we completed Leacross Landing
We were delighted to (virtually) celebrate the completion of our largest affordable housing build to date in 2020. Our Virtual Key Ceremony commemorated the completion of our Leacross Landing build, a 16-unit townhome development in the city’s east end. The build began in the summer of 2017 and over the course of 2020 Habitat Greater Ottawa welcomed 7 new families to the Orléans community, all housed during the ongoing pandemic.
Due to COVID-19 Habitat Greater Ottawa was not able to celebrate by way of our usual in-person dedication event and instead released two Virtual Key Ceremony videos welcoming our newest Habitat homeowners. The videos feature interviews with the Habitat families as well as Habitat Greater Ottawa staff, volunteers and dignitaries such as City of Ottawa Mayor, Jim Watson, Ottawa City Councillor for Orléans Ward Matthew Luloff, MPP of Orléans Stephen Blais and Member of Parliament for Orléans Marie-France Lalonde.
Click here to view Part I or Part II of our Virtual Key Ceremony.
Previous
Next
supporting our families during COVID-19
When COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, we immediately reached out to our homeowners to remind families that we are here for them. As the impact of emergency orders and stay at home measures were understood we adapted our policies to provide support to our current Habitat families impacted by COVID-19. We have been working with families providing mortgage–related financing assistance, enhanced payment support plans and have been linking families to community resources.
In addition, we have updated our Volunteer Hours Plan to ensure new Partner Families can still earn credit for their Volunteer Hours despite physical distancing restrictions and ongoing limitations to volunteering on the build site and at the ReStore. We have developed creative solutions to keep our future homeowners engaged from home, such as through online learning and DIY home improvement courses, the cooking and sharing of a cherished family recipe and meal (complete with photos of it being enjoyed by the entire family!), as well as through the drawing of pictures by children and stories about what home means to them.
online shopping at the ReStore has arrived!
Our ReStore has gone virtual! Over the Spring of 2020 the ReStore team worked quickly and expertly to pivot our sales approach and to officially launch the online restoregoshop.ca. The online store has allowed shoppers to continue to source great ReStore finds from the safety and comfort of home even during store closures.
We would like to thank our valued customers for their continued support and understanding, as well as our dedicated employees who are going the extra mile during this difficult time. As friends and families, neighbours and strangers, we will all get through this together.
Add Your Heading Text Here
ReStore 2020 by the numbers
7008 donations processed from individuals and businesses
an estimated 1.4 million pounds diverted from landfills
more than 500 online orders made in the first 8 months of restoregoshop.ca
50 individual volunteers committed time and skills to help at our ReStore locations
2068 volunteer hours at our ReStore locations
Add Your Heading Text Here
Add Your Heading Text Here
we broke ground on Titus Landing
We are excited to share that we’ve started construction on our Titus Landing development at Wateridge Village. Sponsored by Red Roof Foundation, the build is an 8-unit stacked townhome development centrally located on the former Canadian Forces Rockcliffe Airbase, in a growing neighbourhood close to amenities such as transit, parks and schools.
For our Titus Landing build we adopted the use of a prefabricated construction method to stay on schedule in the wake of build delays due to COVID-19 and ongoing challenges accessing build materials and related supply chain issues. We also made the transition to ensure we are building more environmentally friendly and energy efficient homes.
We have been participating in Enbridge Gas’ Savings by Design, which allows residential builders to achieve improved energy and environmental performance well beyond the Ontario Building Code. At Titus Landing, we have also implemented the use of Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF’s) for the basement, which reduces the use of natural resources such as wood, gas and electricity. ICF’s are also 100% recyclable, which reduces the waste produced by our construction site.
With each new Habitat Greater Ottawa project, we strive towards building a greener future for the families we serve and the communities we build in.
More information on this build can be found on our website.
Add Your Heading Text Here
On October 29, we invited our supporters to celebrate the importance of home from the comfort of their own home. Our 2020 Steel Toes & Slippers Gala featured an online auction, guest speakers, musical performances by local artists Kathleen Edwards and Mia Kelly, as well as a special appearance by Emmy-Award winner Annie Murphy from Schitt’s Creek! Our first ever virtual Gala was a huge success in raising funds for future Habitat Greater Ottawa builds! Thank you to all those who joined us!
$48,000 raised to provide local families with safe, decent and affordable housing
492 supporters tuned in to watch our live virtual Gala
our virtual Gala was viewed in 48 cities and 5 countries around the world
Thank you to all of our Community Event Organizers for your generous support of Habitat Greater Ottawa! During the past year, our amazing Community Event Organizers were able to recreate their events to follow the COVID-19 guidelines set out by the province.
We are truly grateful to have been chosen as the beneficiary of their fundraising activities and we look forward to partnering with them again.
Volunteers have been and always will be at the heart of our organization. This year has been unprecedented to say the least, however our volunteers were there for us through it all. We truly appreciate the ongoing work of those volunteering with us virtually on our Board and committees and at our ReStore and build site when safe to do so.
We continue to be inspired by our volunteers whose time, commitment, passion and skills truly builds community.
Thank you to all of our 2020 volunteers. We cannot wait until we can all be together again!
Previous
Next
a look into the future
Add Your Heading Text Here
coming together to empower one another
The last year has shown that we as a community need to work together to create a society that is just and equitable for all. As a part of our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace and culture, Habitat Greater Ottawa has established a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee (DEIC), dedicated to empower staff in leading Habitat Greater Ottawa’s efforts to ensure an inclusive workplace.
Whether talking about race, sexual orientation, disability or faith, all dimensions of diversity strengthen us, and we are committed to learn through each other’s lived experiences.
In addition to bettering our work in the organization and locally, Habitat Greater Ottawa’s CEO, Alexis Ashworth, took the Black North Pledge on behalf of our organization, and joined the Black North Initiative’s Housing Committee.
Add Your Heading Text Here
partnering on the North Grenville development
In partnership with Habitat for Humanity Thousand Islands, Habitat Greater Ottawa will break ground on our next development in North Grenville later this year.
This 15-unit development consists of townhomes and stacked townhomes with accessible units available. This new development is located in an established community near parks, schools, stores and the district hospital.
More information on this build can be found on our website.
Add Your Heading Text Here
looking to the future
Following our North Grenville build we will be breaking ground on our next development on Mac Street. This development will be located in the south east end of Ottawa and be in an established community near transit, parks, community centres, the Ottawa airport, and stores.
More information on this build can be found on our website.