Habitat for Humanity wants to build a world where everyone has a safe place to call their own. Traditionally, we addressed this by building affordable homes, but in the past three years, we’ve expanded our programs and forged new partnerships to help more people in more ways than ever before. That’s why we’re so happy to be announcing this amazing new partnership with Halton Region: ReFurnish.
People know that Habitat builds homes for families and individuals, but we do so much more than that in our communities of Halton and Peel Regions. And thanks to some new partnerships, we are really thinking outside of the box to make people’s lives better. ReFurnish is the latest in a number of programs that have a direct impact on the lives of people in our community needing a hand up.
Most ReFurnish clients are found through Halton’s Housing Stability Fund. The main focus of this program is to prevent homelessness. Many of the people in this program have recently found more permanent accommodations, but now are in need of items to furnish their homes.
After being referred by the Region, the family or individual comes to our Burlington ReStore, where one of our ReStore associates shows them the store’s inventory. Each person or family referred by the Region is allotted a subsidy to spend on furniture from the ReStore. The subsidy also covers the cost of a delivery from our store directly to their home.
Our Burlington ReStore is one of three locations that works with the Region to furnish their client’s homes, but currently it is the only one that allows then to see and select furniture in person.
Many people in poverty are stripped of their autonomy. They are told where they can eat, what they can do, or what forms to fill out. We strongly believe in giving each client the power of choice in this process. We hope that through the ReFurnish program, our clients feel like they have more control over their own environment.
The Burlington ReFurnish program has already been met with resounding approval. In the future we are planning to expand the program to our Milton ReStore, and eventually, we hope to make inroads into Peel Region as well.
Thank you Halton Region for allowing us this new opportunity to make a lasting impact in people’s lives in our community! We are so proud to be part of such an important initiative and hope this program will lead to many more people living better, more comfortable lives.