Habitat for Humanity Affiliates Join Forces to Serve More Low-Income Families

TORONTO, April 7, 2014 /CNW/ - On April 1, 2014, after a thorough and extensive planning process, the Habitat for Humanity affiliates of Brampton Caledon, Toronto, and York Region legally amalgamated into one new affiliate serving all three regions. The new affiliate will be known as Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area (Habitat GTA).

Habitat GTA will continue to pursue the Habitat for Humanity mission of mobilizing volunteers and community partners to provide affordable housing and promote homeownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty. The newly-amalgamated affiliate will have a new Board of Directors chaired by David Sauve, who is currently the Chair of Habitat York Region's Board of Directors, and will be led by Habitat Toronto's CEO Ene Underwood. "There is an urgent and growing need for more affordable housing solutions across the GTA," said Underwood. "We have tremendous talent and passion across the staff of the combined affiliate and I share their excitement for what we can achieve together."

"As the housing challenges across the GTA have continued to grow, the need for a united approach became more apparent to the Boards of each affiliate," said David Sauve, new Board Chair of Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area. "By pooling resources and expertise, the new organization will have the capacity to serve more families and make a greater impact in the communities across our regions."

The communities served by the new affiliate represent approximately 70% of the population of the Greater Toronto Area. Currently, close to 100,000 households across these communities are on the wait list for social housing and almost one-third of Toronto Region households (31.8%) are spending 30% or more of total income on housing. "Many families in the GTA are facing enormous challenges to find safe and affordable places to live," said Underwood. "This amalgamation will enable us to serve more families as a combined organization than ever would have been possible operating as three separate affiliates."

Over the next several months, staff and volunteers will continue all work currently underway and work towards a plan to reach their strategic goal of delivering homeownership to 100 low-income families every year across the GTA by 2020. The charity will continue to rely on the tremendous commitment of volunteers, donors, and government partners to reach this ambitious home building goal.

Habitat for Humanity Toronto was founded in 1988 and the York Region and Brampton Caledon affiliates were each founded in 2001. Together, the combined affiliates have partnered with thousands of volunteers and organizations, building almost 270 homes for families in need of affordable housing.

Visit habitatGTA.ca for more information on Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area.

SOURCE: Habitat for Humanity Toronto

or media requests, please contact: Joanna M. Dwyer, Director, Marketing & Communications, Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area, T: 416-755-7353 ext. 259 | C: 416-277-3064 | E: [email protected]