By now you might know that there are several ways to donate to Habitat — through a one-time monetary donation, a monthly donation or donation of an item. But what you might not know is where your donation goes, and how exactly it helps our organization. Read on to learn about our donation process and how your charitable donation helps make a difference in the lives of local families.
1. Your donation contributes to our Affordable Homeownership cycle
Habitat has a unique model which allows us to work directly with our community to break the cycle of poverty. First, a family who meets our criteria is selected to be a partner family. Then land is either donated, or purchased for the family’s new home. As well, materials and services are donated or purchased using funds from donors and sponsors.
During the process of constructing their new home, a partner family volunteers 500 hours of “sweat equity.” The building process is aided by Habitat staff and volunteers trained in construction. When the house is finished, it is sold to the partner family through a long term, no-interest mortgage tailored to no more than 30 per cent of their overall income. Then the family moves into their new home, and the money from their mortgage payments goes directly back into the cycle of purchasing more land, supplies and services to build another home for another deserving family.
Habitat doesn’t give families a hand out — our homes are not free. By requiring families to contribute volunteer hours towards the construction of their home, we are actually providing them with a hand up; giving them the assistance they need to get ahead in life through having a safe roof over their head.
When you donate to Habitat, your money is making a direct impact on this cycle. You are helping us cover the up-front costs of land, building materials and services so that other donations continue into our revolving cycle of home ownership. In fact, 100 per cent of all monetary donations to Habitat Halton-Mississauga go right into our home building projects.
2. Your donation provides us with inventory to sell in our ReStores
Did you know that in addition to making a financial donation to Habitat, you can also donate old or used furniture, appliances, clothing, home decor items and more? We sell these items in our ReStores, where funds help to cover administrative costs and build homes for families through paying for things like programming and build costs. Our community donors provide us with inventory to sell so that we can raise funds for our vision of a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live.
If you’re considering donating to the ReStore, we make it easy for you to give in the way that is most convenient for you. We offer a free home pickup service for furniture and other items, which you can sign up for through our website. We also offer a free kitchen removal program, where our professional team of volunteers will deconstruct your kitchen and bring salvaged items, such as kitchen cabinets, back to a ReStore to be sold to generate profits. You can also drop off your donation at the ReStore closest to you. Habitat ReStores accept a variety of items other than furniture and appliances, including tools, books and lighting accessories. A full list of accepted donation items is available online by following this link.
Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga represents Burlington, Mississauga, Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills and Georgetown. Habitat for Humanity GTA serves Brampton, Caledon, Toronto, Scarborough and the region of York. Habitat Durham represents Ajax Oshawa and Uxbridge, and Habitat Hamilton serves the region of Hamilton. To find your closest Habitat ReStore, check out Habitat for Humanity Canada’s ReStore locator.
3. Your donation gives us products to upcycle in our ReVive Centre
When you donate to a Habitat ReStore, there’s a chance your item may be selected to get the DIY treatment at our new ReVive Centre in Mississauga. This unique facility doubles as a corporate team building experience, and it’s a perfect way for us to breathe new life into old products. These upcycled products are then sold in a ReStore, with a special tag so customers know that it’s been crafted specially in the ReVive Centre.
Our ReVive Centre is another way we’re being innovative in our response to the affordable housing crisis in the GTA. We are always looking for different ways to engage the community and raise funds in the process. If you’re interested in getting involved in ReVive by volunteering or bringing in a corporate team for a team building experience, visit our website to learn more.
4. Your donation makes a real difference in your local community
Ultimately, when you donate to Habitat, you are making a real difference in the lives of families in your community. When you donate $1.00 to Habitat, your donation brings $4.00 of benefits to Habitat, according to the Boston Consulting Group’s Social Return on Investment Findings. In the same study, Habitat partner families were found to be happier, more satisfied with their lives, better at managing the responsibilities of their daily lives and felt more like they belonged to a community and had something to contribute to society.
Those statements speak for themselves — having a safe place to call home has a huge impact on the lives of families, which then in return allows those families to make a positive contribution to their community. Additionally, families with children will have the opportunity to raise their children in a positive and safe space, which will help those children grow up to be responsible, committed citizens. Similarly, 70 per cent of Habitat families now donate time and money to charity. The cycle of making a difference in the lives of others can start with something as simple as a donation from someone just like yourself.
Your charitable donation to Habitat helps us work to provide solutions for the pressing issue of affordable housing in the GTA. If you’re looking to get involved and donate to a local charity, consider joining forces with Habitat Halton-Mississauga. We offer opportunities for either one-time donations or monthly donations through our new Hope Builders Program. We guarantee that 100 per cent of your monetary donation goes towards building affordable homes for low-income families.
Visit our website to learn more about our mission, and the work we’re doing to make the dream of homeownership a reality for local families. We can’t wait to hear from you and show you how your donation is having a positive impact on the lives of local families!