MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, January 8, 2021
Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga Expands Service Area
Dufferin County Transitions to Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga
Burlington, ON – Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga has acquired Dufferin County as part of its service area from Habitat Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph effective January 1st, 2021. Discussions regarding this transition have been in play since the spring of 2020 and will see Habitat Halton-Mississauga assume operations of the First Street ReStore in Orangeville, and continue to advance affordable housing solutions for families across the County.
Steve Howard, CEO of Habitat Wellington Dufferin Guelph explains: “Habitat for Humanity is committed to building safe, decent, affordable housing in Dufferin. We have reviewed our operating alignment in conjunction with the leaders of our sister affiliate in Halton-Mississauga and concluded that capacities will be expanded by transitioning leadership to that Habitat team. We will support them in every way in this realignment. We take this opportunity to thank the Dufferin County community for their support of the families we have been able to assist. We look forward to continued support of our Habitat ReStore and build initiatives as we complete the transition to Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga.”
Habitat Halton-Mississauga successfully operates three other ReStores in Burlington, Mississauga and Milton two of which have enjoyed recognition for top sales performance in Ontario and nationally. The organization currently provides housing solutions for families in: Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, Milton, Georgetown and Halton Hills. In December of 2020, Habitat Halton-Mississauga completed an 18-unit housing project on Queensway in Burlington which saw it lever $2.7million in provincial government funding to generate additional donations from individuals, corporate, community and construction partners, and surplus revenues from its ReStores, to complete the $8.5million project.
“Habitat Halton-Mississauga is grateful to our sister affiliate for this opportunity,” said Halton-Mississauga CEO John Gerrard. “We have warmly welcomed the Orangeville ReStore employees to our staff team and look forward to building on the current success of that ReStore to increase the products and services available to the residents of Orangeville and, more broadly, Dufferin County.”
Gerrard advised that a change in nomenclature for the two organizations would be phased in over time to reflect Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin and Habitat for Humanity Wellington Guelph.
Gerrard added: “Please know how proud and excited we are at the prospect of working in Dufferin County and with the communities that comprise it. The unusual challenges that the COVID pandemic have brought to all communities in Ontario and, indeed, across our great country, have underscored that the need for safe, decent, affordable, appropriate housing solutions has never been greater. Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin is committed to continue to utilize the breadth of our experience and resources in this regard.”
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About Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin
Founded in 1999 as Habitat for Humanity Halton, the organization merged with Habitat for Humanity Mississauga in 2015. Working with individual donors, government, corporate, community and construction partners – and channeling the selfless dedication of legions of volunteers – Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin is innovatively providing affordable housing solutions for the communities it serves. It is part of Habitat for Humanity Canada – a national, charitable organization working toward a world where everyone has a decent and affordable place to call home. Nationally and internationally, Habitat for Humanity brings communities together to help families build strength, stability and independence through affordable shelter. Established in 1976, Habitat for Humanity is currently the leading provider of affordable housing globally with operations in more than 70 countries. www.habitathm.ca.
For additional information please contact:
John Gerrard, CEO
Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin
(905) 637-4446 Ext. 235
or
Steve Howard, CEO
Habitat for Humanity Wellington Guelph
(519) 767-9752