Habitat News!

December 2, 2011

Story from Cornwall Seaway News

Habitat for Humanity Seaway Valley is pleased to announce the selection of the Partner Family for their upcoming Build in Moose Creek. They are Penny Grabs and her three children, Trinity, 10, Skyler, 6, and Peyton, 19 months. The Grabs family currently resides on McLean Road in Moose Creek.

Penny works very hard at two jobs; the first at Farley Windows, and the other at the Moose Creek Villa. Trinity is in Grade 5 at Maxville Public School, and Skyler is in Grade 1 at Maxville Public School. Penny is also involved with the Knox Presbyterian Church in Moose Creek.

“We are very pleased to partner with the Grabs family for our Moose Creek build,” stated Habitat Chair, Frances Lauzon. “Penny impressed our Family Services Committee with her work ethic and with her devotion to her children. She also met all the selection criteria under our three categories of need, ability to partner, and ability to repay the mortgage.”

“I feel awesome about this,” stated newest Partner Family member, Penny Grabs. “It’s a really good opportunity to own a safe, affordable, decent home.”

Habitat is not a give-away program. It is a hand-up, rather than a hand-out. Miss Grabs will be expected to complete 250 hours of “sweat equity,” some of it volunteering at the Habitat ReStore in Bonville. She will also be expected to repay a no-interest mortgage.

The North Stormont build is slated to begin in April 2012 and the Grabs’ should move into their new home in Moose Creek in August of 2012

November 9, 2011

Leigh Taggart has joined Habitat for Humanity Seaway Valley as Executive Director and will be working from the ReStore in Bonville. 

 “Since graduating from Algonquin College’s Public Relations Program I have spent the last thirteen years working primarily in the non-profit sector.  I have worked for both small, community-based organizations to National non-profits.  Often the most rewarding organizations for me personally have been in the social services sector.  Here I have witnessed firsthand how my role has helped improve an individual’s life and shaped their future.

Having spent the last five years out in Alberta it is wonderful to return to my roots in Eastern Ontario.  As a parent I’m grateful we are able to provide our family with a safe and warm home and as a parent I would accept nothing less. As a homeowner I know the sense of pride one has for working hard and having something equitable to show for it.  We know the reality for some hard working families is very different.  As Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity I will work hard for families working to help themselves.  We will continue to empower parents with programs, services and financial assistance so they can strive to achieve their goals not lower them.

I look forward to working with the community to make a positive and lasting impact in the lives of families in our area.  This position will be more than statistics and charts it will tell a story, and that story will begin with a dream.”

January 17, 2011

Story from Cornwall Standard-Freeholder

CORNWALL -- For the first time, Karen McIntosh has a home that gives both her children space and independence.

For five years, the mother of two lived in a three-storey duplex with an autistic son and teenage daughter.

On Saturday, Habitat for Humanity officially handed over a brand new house to her care.

"It's drastic," she said of the change. "The stress level goes way down."

Before, she had to monitor Matthew nearly everywhere he went. Though the 13-year-old currently spends most of his time at a therapeutic home in Ottawa, when he is in Cornwall he is now free to roam the new residence and fenced-in area behind.

"I can give him so much independence," said Karen. "The backyard is safe for him now."

The benefits aren't just for her son, however.

"For Meagan, too," said Karen of her 16-year-old girl. "Now she has her own space."

Habitat officials were thrilled to hand McIntosh the keys to the third house they constructed in 2010 -they usually only have funds for two per year.

"This house was not going to be," said Frances Lauzon, volunteer administrator of the Seaway Valley Habitat branch. "Exit (Realty International) donated $100,000."

"We're very proud of what we've been able to do," said Richard Abell, chair of the family selection committee. "Community support . . . is the only thing that makes it happen."

More than 30 sponsors pooled resources to see the house completed, and roughly 20 volunteers started putting hammer to nail in September at the St. Antoine Street site.

McIntosh said it was a little overwhelming to choose things like paint colours and flooring for the entire house, but was left truly speechless by the end result of all of the hours of work.

"You don't know how good the city is until you see what they do to help," she said. "Thanks isn't enough."

Though McIntosh was offered the house with no down payment and no construction bills, she will be taking on all of the regular costs: insurance, mortgage payments and other expenses.

She works full-time at the Upper Canada District School Board and also put in 300 hours of "sweat equity" at the Habitat ReStore -all recipients are required to give back to the organization in some way before they are given a deed.

Abell said there are seven or eight families that apply for a home each year, but he would like to see more.

"We're hoping to expand that," he said, adding that more publicity could mean new volunteers and sponsors to help additional families each year. "We'd like more people to have more opportunities to put their name in."

Abell said it usually takes four to six weeks for the committee to choose a recipient ; they have already decided on two families for the 2011 homes.

One house will be built just around the corner from McIntosh's brand new residence this coming spring, and the other will go up in Williamsburg.

January 9, 2011

Story from Cornwall Seaway News

EXIT Realty Corp. International announced in March 2010 that they have donated $100,000.00 to Habitat Seaway Valley to sponsor the build on St. Antoine St., in Cornwall which began in September 2010. In addition to their tremendous donation, EXIT REALTORS® from across Canada and from right here in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry helped to build the home on St. Antoine Street in Cornwall. To date, EXIT Realty Corp. International has donated a total of $1.67 million to Habitat for Humanity’s efforts across North America. At EXIT, a portion of each transaction is set aside for Habitat for Humanity. For more information, please visit www.exitrealty.com.

Habitat for Humanity helps individuals and families in financially vulnerable situations build and buy quality affordable homes by reducing barriers to homeownership. These barriers are reduced by selling Habitat for Humanity homes with no down payment, no-interest mortgages, and payments set at 25% of gross income (principal and taxes) and homeowner training and support services.

Karen McIntosh, Meagan and Matthew along with Habitat for Humanity Seaway Valley, will be hosting a“New Home Dedication Ceremony” on Saturday, January 15th at 10:00am at 711 St. Antoine Street in Cornwall. The ceremony will consist of numerous sponsors/donors from our communities for this new build.

October 8, 2010

Story from Cornwall Seaway News

Two dozen EXIT Realty staff have been extra busy this week, lending a helping hand with the construction of Habitat’s latest build at 711 St. Antoine Street, in the city’s north end. Many of the EXIT Realty staff travelled from Toronto to assist Habitat Family Partner Karen McIntosh to turn her dream of home ownership into reality.

The EXIT Realty Corporate Blitz Building Week began Saturday, October 2nd, and continues through the week, with a team of agents, brokers, and staff from across Canada, along with community volunteers, taking part. Exit Realty International has donated $100,000 to the project.

Rachel Rampersad, an EXIT Realty employee, and her boyfriend, Chester Villanueva, were among the dedicated and hardworking team members, who pledged their time and energy to the Building Blitz. Rachel said she was excited to be in Cornwall helping out, as she had been looking for a way to assist others in need.

Habitat for Humanity is EXIT Realty Corp International's charity of choice, and to date, it has pledged over $1.68 million to the cause. The McIntosh home is EXIT Realty’s sixteenth build in North America, and their third in Canada.

Karen McIntosh and her family were chosen to receive a home based on Habitat’s selection criteria, which includes a need for housing, the ability to partner with Habitat, and the means to repay the mortgage. Karen completed 250 volunteer hours, which will serve as the down payment on the house. They hope to be settled in their new home by Christmas.

September 14, 2010

Delorme family move into their new home

CORNWALL – Mariette Delorme couldn’t stop smiling as her dream of becoming a homeowner became a reality.  A Home Dedication ceremony was held on Saturday, September 11 to celebrate the completion of the Delormes’ new home at 420 Victoria Street.  Mariette, and her daughter, Kellie-Anne, 13, are the latest recipients of a house built by the volunteers of Habitat for Humanity Seaway Valley.

The Delorme family welcomed sixty volunteers and supporters to the ribbon-cutting.  Mayor Bob Kilger and Habitat Chair Dick Aubry held the ribbon.

Mark MacDonell, and his carpentry students at St. Lawrence College, was on-site through much of the build, providing many hours of hard work.  The Cornwall Horticultural Society did a wonderful job of landscaping, and donated a year-long membership to Mariette.  The Delormes received a beautiful hand-made quilt from the Cornwall Quilters Guild.

Mariette, an employee at StarTek and a single mom, completed 250 hours of volunteer service, which serves as a down payment for the house.

In order to qualify for the program, families must meet selection criteria that include a need for housing, the ability to partner with Habitat, and the means to repay their mortgage.  Habitat for Humanity Seaway Valley has begun another house in Cornwall, and they are seeking volunteers to assist with construction.  Please contact Ed Turpin at 613-534-2607 for more information.

August 26, 2010

WINCHESTER – A home dedication ceremony for Habitat for Humanity’s Seaway Valley’s newest completed build will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 28 at 12175 Country Road 3 in Winchester.  Proud new home owners are Lisa and Mark Morgan, and their children, Hannah and Kaine.

The land for this build was generously donated by the Township of North Dundas.

The experience of participating in the home-owning program has been life-affirming and life changing, said Lisa, describing the volunteers who helped with the building as “absolutely awesome.”  Lisa was an active participant during the construction in North Dundas, learning skills from the other volunteers that she hopes to use as a volunteer herself in future Habitat builds.

Hannah and Kaine couldn’t wait to move into their new home as they wanted to get settled before school starts.  Mark works for the accounting department at Frecon, while Lisa is a homemaker, with interests in photography and art.  They are both actively involved in the community.  

In order to qualify for the program, families must meet selection criteria that include a need for housing, the ability to partner with Habitat, and the means to repay their mortgage.  In keeping with the Habitat philosophy of providing a hand-up, rather than a hand-out, the Morgan family completed 500 volunteer hours, which will serve as their down payment.

August 24, 2010

CORNWALL- The groundbreaking for Habitat for Humanity Seaway Valley’s latest housing build took place Saturday, August 20 at 711 St. Antoine Street in the city’s north end.  Karen McIntosh, whose family was chosen to partner in the project, was on hand to turn over the sod.  She was accompanied by her daughter Meagan, as well as Habitat Chair Dick Aubry and Exit Realty Seaway Valley, Broker, Judi Auger.  Exit Realty International has generously donated $100, 000 to the project. Meagan is holding a picture of her brother Matthew.

Karen expressed her gratitude for the help and support she and her family have received from Habitat.  Her son Matthew is autistic, and needs a safe and protected environment.  The build will include a fenced yard.  Karen has been busy completing the 250 volunteer hours that will serve as a down payment on the house.  The family is hoping to move into the completed home by Christmas.

Habitat for Humanity is a worldwide initiative that envisions a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. It helps individuals and families in financially vulnerable situations build and buy quality affordable homes by reducing barriers to homeownership.  These barriers are reduced by selling Habitat for Humanity homes with no down payment, no-interest mortgages, payments are set at 25% of gross income (principal and taxes) and homeowner training and support services.

Building for Karen’s house begins on September 1, 2010 and volunteers are needed.  Please contact Ed Turpin at 613-534-2607 for more details.

July 21, 2010

“Team Depot”, a dedicated group of employees from the Cornwall Home Depot Store, once again volunteered their time and building skills Wednesday July 7, 2010 to help Habitat for Humanity Seaway Valley with the work of constructing another Habitat for Humanity affordable home.

Home Depot employees spent the day working under extreme temperatures and unprecedented humidity to install gyprock inside the Habitat for Humanity home being constructed on Victoria Street in Cornwall.

Despite severe humidex readings, this group of dedicated volunteers stayed on the job and managed to complete the immense task they so willingly agreed to do. Over the course of the day, and as a result of their enthusiasm, the members of Team Depot lightened the work load with good natured banter and with pride of accomplishment for a job well done.

One must applaud Home Depot and their employees who have continuously given back to the community through their work with Habitat for Humanity Seaway Valley and other non-profit organizations.

Habitat for Humanity Seaway Valley is a non-profit housing organization, one of many Habitat affiliates across Canada and around the world. Together, with diverse volunteers, Habitat offers A Hand up; Not a Handout by building simple, decent, affordable homes in partnership with low income families.

May 28, 2010

Nearly 20 carpentry students from St. Lawrence College have joined forces with the Habitat for Humanity Seaway Valley to build a home for a Cornwall family. The project is nearly complete and the volunteers hope to have the job done by the end of June said Mark MacDonell, an instructor at the college.

Earlier this year Habitat’s Build Chairman Louis Tremblay and Volunteer Chairman Ed Turpin approached the college with the idea of building this home. It is located on a little street named Victoria in Cornwall, between Gloucester and Marlborough. MacDonell and his crew have been working daily to complete the project and have garnered some quality, hands on experience in the process.

Habitat for Humanity Seaway Valley is a community-based, non-profit, faith-based organization striving to create a safe and decent place for everyone to live. Their mission is to gather together volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting home ownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty.

March 11, 2010

EXIT Realty Corp. International announced today that they will be donating $100,000.00 to Habitat Seaway Valley in 2010 and sponsoring the entire build on St. Antoine St., in Cornwall which is slated to begin in September of this year.

“We are humbled and excited about this wonderful opportunity”, stated Sherman Goodwin, Vice-Chair of Habitat Seaway Valley.  “This will allow us to build three homes this year rather than the two we had planned.”  “Another needy family will be in their own home this year, thanks to the generosity of EXIT Realty Corp. International.”

The announcement was made today at the offices of EXIT Realty Seaway in Cornwall.  EXIT Seaway’s Broker  , Lana Barnes, is a long standing supporter of Habitat for Humanity, having served many years on the Board of Habitat Seaway Valley.

In addition to their tremendous donation, EXIT REALTORS® from across Canada and from right here in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry will be picking up a hammer and helping to build the home on St. Antoine Street.  During the week of September 20^th, the build site will be alive with the sound of the home being constructed with the help of over 50 real estate agents from all over the Country.

EXIT Realty has a long history with Habitat for Humanity.  Since 2004, EXIT Realty Corp. International has been an enthusiastic corporate sponsor of 11 home builds for Habitat for Humanity and the company has five Habitat builds planned for 2010. To date, EXIT Realty Corp. International has donated a total of $1.67 million to Habitat for Humanity’s efforts across North America. At EXIT, a portion of each transaction is set aside for Habitat for Humanity. For more information, please visit www.exitrealty.com.

Habitat Seaway Valley will also be building homes in Winchester and on Victoria St., in Cornwall this spring.

Habitat for Humanity is a worldwide initiative that envisions a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. It helps individuals and families in financially vulnerable situations build and buy quality affordable homes by reducing barriers to homeownership.  These barriers are reduced by selling Habitat for Humanity homes with no down payment, no-interest mortgages, payments set at 25% of gross income (principal and taxes) and homeowner training and support services.

Habitat is well known as offering a “hand-up, rather than a “hand-out”.  The St. Antoine partner family will donate 250 hours of volunteer work as their down-payment on their home.

“We are excited about the upcoming year and the families we will be able to serve. EXIT Realty Corp. International has made this a record year in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry,” concluded Sherman Goodwin.

March 9, 2010

Spring is coming and with it Winchester should be alive with the sounds of hammers and saws as the Habitat Build on County Rd 3 begins April 12^th.

And Mark & Lisa Morgan with their two children, Hannah and Kaine, just can’t wait.  They have worked throughout the winter at the Habitat ReStore in Bonville fulfilling their sweat equity commitment.  They have finished their required 500 volunteer hours which serves as their down payment on their home. And they’ve had a lot of fun picking out colours and thinking about decorating their new home.

Habitat for Humanity Vice Chair, Sherman Goodwin, explains:  “The basement for this house will be dug in early April and the foundation and septic system installed.  Then the work of our volunteers begins.  The project will be overseen by a professional contractor who is employed by Habitat.  And safety courses will be offered before any work starts”.

“The reaction of the Winchester community to this Build has been amazing.  Already we have had many offers from local tradesmen and contractors who want to donate their services to the Build. The lot for this Build was generously donated by the Township of North Dundas.”

The Groundbreaking Ceremonies for the Morgan’s Build will take place on the Build Site, 12175 County Rd 3 in Winchester on Saturday March 27^th at 2:00 p.m.  Anyone interested in being a part of this exciting project is welcome to attend.  A volunteer information session will be held on the site immediately following the ceremony.  Further information can be received from Kim Hutt at 613-652-2520.

The Morgan Family and Habitat Seaway Valley are excited as their Build comes closer.  April should be a great month in Winchester, Ontario.