Going the Distance with Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver
There is reason to celebrate. This year marks our 20th anniversary. Since the beginning, we have pledged to bring affordable housing to our communities. From Langley to Squamish, we are constantly seeking innovative ways to build safe and decent Habitat homes for local working families looking towards a brighter future, while stepping away from living paycheque to paycheque.
Margaret Van Essen joined our family in 2009. A single mother of eight children, Margaret turned to Habitat Greater Vancouver for assistance to help secure a home for herself and her three remaining youngest children. “It gave us a normal life. My children could play in safety and most importantly, they developed very healthy attitudes about life and how to become responsible citizens.” Van Essen adds that partnering with Habitat gave her a choice to be autonomous, self-sufficient and to plan for her future years. With her boys grown and ready to leave the nest, Margaret is now looking to buy her own home with the mortgage money she has invested. The Van Essen story is a success story. Their family has grown strong supportive roots that will carry them forward in life knowing they were once given a hand up and not a hand out to a sustainable future
Established in 1995, Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver moves working families out of uncertain rental situations into homes they can afford and call their own. Habitat is not an alternative to social housing but gives those seeking a brighter future a hand up towards their dreams of homeownership and a safer community. Chosen Partner Families must complete 500 hours of sweat equity (volunteer time) before moving into their home, and pay a no-interest and no down payment mortgage set at no more than 30% of their monthly income. Upon moving out, Partner Families are given back all the equity they have put into their homes as cash, which they may then invest in the traditional mortgage system.
Twenty years of helping families grow. This anniversary is definitely one to celebrate. We have big goals. We want to bring greater awareness to our social enterprise, ReStore. We just opened our fourth location in Burnaby (7977 Enterprise Street) and are excited to invite the neighbourhood to come by and shop, donate and volunteer. ReStore sells donated new and used home décor and building supplies at discounted prices. All revenue covers our affiliate’s operational costs and helps build homes locally.
ReStore is shopping with a cause, and yet, it remains Greater Vancouver’s hidden gem. Our campaigns and promotions are not without merit, but fundraising can be challenging. On May 3, 2015 we ask you to be one of our RUN4HOPE runners, and to take on the 8K, half or full marathon on our behalf. In doing so, you commit to raising $350 for Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver (a BMO Vancouver Marathon national charity partner) and for the families we serve.
So how does it work? Register on the BMO’s site for the 8KM, Half or Full Marathon (RUN4HOPE runners are eligible for discounted rates until April 4, 2015), create a fundraising page on our website and run! (Note: You can collect your donations online or in cash and cheques and mail them to our society office.)
So while you have your head in the game and are ready to cross that finish line in record time, here are a few fundraising tips to reach your fitness goal and champion affordable homeownership here at home:
1. Find your tribe
Often in setting goals, we forget we’re not an island. Not every task needs to be done on our own. Rather look at forging your own tribe. Join a running group through meetup.com or your local sports store. Ask family, friends or colleagues to run alongside you. Whether it’s just a training partner or your co-pilot on the course, the triumph is sweeter when shared.
2. Tell your Story
Whether you’re spreading the word on social media or reaching out to friends and family, cultivate your story. Get personal and let people in on why you’ve decided to run in the first place and to RUN4HOPE for Habitat Greater Vancouver.
3. Him and Her and You and Me
The world is your oyster. Connect with everyone and anyone. Consider even approaching local businesses you frequent as a customer. The wider you set your net, the more donors you’re bound to get on board.
4. Be Bold
Don’t be shy about letting people know about your fundraising goals. Use a pledge sheet. Even take it into the office. Think big and consider throwing a pub night, or raffling off tickets for a prize—or go so far as participating in a cause marketing campaign whereby part proceeds of business sales or services are applied to your RUN4HOPE objectives.
5. Network, network, network
Use what networking channels you have available to you. Think social media, LinkedIn, professional organizations, running groups or your local pub and coffee shop. However much you raise, know that your dollars are going to a good cause—and that with your running shoes in tow—you’ll reach your goal of raising $350 as fast as can be!
[threecol_one]
[/threecol_one]
[threecol_two_last]
Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver
To mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership opportunities as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty.
Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver works alongside community partners and volunteers to build safe, decent homes that are sold to partner families with payments tailored to be no more than 30% of their annual gross income. These families would not qualify for a traditional mortgage but by contributing 500 volunteer hours (or sweat equity as we call it) with Habitat for Humanity, they help build their own home. To date, 31 affordable homes have been completed in Greater Vancouver for 31 families (and 45 children). Come 2015, 12 new homes will be built in Richmond, each with an affordable rental suite. We are currently accepting applications for partner families. And be sure to check out our ReStores (home décor and building supply stores in Greater Vancouver that fund 100% of Habitat’s operations). Help us build affordable and safe homes for all!
[/threecol_two_last]