May 2015
Building our future: Devonleigh Homes
partners with Habitat for Humanity
Erica Phillips, Devonleigh Homes
D
evonleigh Homes prides itself
on not just building homes,
but building communities and being
involved in them. Its new partnership with Habitat for Humanity
Huronia in Angus is part of a long
time vision for and commitment to
those communities: In 2004, Devonleigh helped to donate and frame a
Habitat home in Alliston.
“On a project management level, our
current partnership with Habitat in
Angus is a first for us,” says Andrew
Kidd, owner of Devonleigh Homes
Inc. “The Devonleigh Team is excited
and proud to have been asked to be
involved with such a wonderful community project.”
It’s also the first time Habitat has
worked directly with a builder/developer. This new model allows Habitat
to save money, which means financial donations can go further. New
rules regarding safety and training
regulations mean Habitat has to
contract out a lot of its work to build
the shells and foundations for homes.
“To help us on our build, it made
sense to approach a company with a
great reputation for doing this well,”
says Lee Pigeau, CEO of Habitat.
In addition to award-winning technical expertise, “Devonleigh Homes
brings vision, enthusiasm and 19
years of experience in building over
2,300 homes,” shares Andrew Kidd.
“This experience has earned us a
reputation for high-quality work,
warranty and excellent customer
service.”
It was because of Devonleigh’s positive reputation that Habitat Huronia
approached the builder. “We approached Devonleigh on the advice
of a volunteer. Devonleigh was
building in the Angus area and the
volunteer knew that the company
was well-respected and communityminded,” says Pigeau.
“This partnership
could set an amazing
precedent for midsized Habitat
affiliates across
Canada.”
A team effort
Devonleigh Homes is
donating the house
design, drawings,
and complete construction management for the house:
Stan Moore is
the construction
manager while
designer and
planner Neil
Watson did the
drawings. The
three-bedroom
raised bungalow has
e
In This Issu
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• Land to
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Navigati
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a simple,
basic plan that includes a partially
finished basement.
The tradespeople Devonleigh works
with (most of them since 1996) will
handle the excavation, foundation,
major plumbing, heating, electrical,
walls, ceiling and roofing. These are
professionals who support Devonleigh’s vision: “They are giving
Habitat a great deal on materials and
labour, or donating their services,”
explains Pigeau.
Habitat community volunteers will
do the finishes such as kitchen installation, painting, siding, landscaping,
flooring, and light fixtures.
continues…
Re
Rend
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ingg of
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Land to build on: Navigating Habitat’s greatest challenge
Habitat Staff
S
ince our start in 1997,
Habitat for Humanity
Huronia has built 35 homes.
For the most part, we’ve
bought land locally and
built homes using volunteer labour. But times
are changing, says Habitat’s CEO, Lee Pigeau.
“There’s a great need for
affordable housing in our communities but there isn’t much affordable
land.”
In the face of that challenge, we have
found ways to adapt. In 2014, Habitat
took on its first renovation projects:
one buy-back home on Yonge Street
and one power of sale home on Lampman Lane.
“I’m hopeful that we
can do even more... But
we can’t do it alone.”
Nevertheless, renovating existing
homes provides only a short-term
solution. “The ultimate goal,” says
Pigeau, “is to acquire larger parcels
of land that will allow us to construct
multiple housing units in a single
build, helping more people to become
homeowners sooner.”
Habitat’s goal is to
build up to 8 homes
per year over the next
seven years. “That
would effectively
double the number of
families we have been
able to serve since we
opened our doors 18
years ago,” adds Pigeau.
So how do we get there from here?
•Low or no cost land: Any time
Habitat can secure land or property
for no cost – or at a substantially reduced price – it helps to keep - costs
low and mortgages affordable for
deserving families.
•Cash for land purchases: Having
funds available to buy future home
sites is crucial. “We are competing
for land with for-profit developers,”
shares Pigeau, “so when we have
funds readily available to acquire
and develop a site, it’s a game
changer. We can act quickly and
negotiate lower prices.”
•Strategic partnerships: We are exploring how we might develop strategic partnerships with high quality
builders like Devonleigh Homes, our
current partner in Angus. We’re also
exploring potential partnerships with
condominium developers like those
established by other Habitat affiliates.
•Champion
“Our goal is
affordable
to build up
housing in
to 8 homes
the annexed
per year...”
lands: We
hope our next
projects will include new builds on the 5,700 acres
of land annexed from the Town of
Innisfil in 2010. With 15,000 houses
being built there, Habitat is eager to
help champion affordable housing in
the community.
“This shortage of affordable land
presents an opportunity to consider
new partnerships and approaches,”
says Pigeau. “I’m hopeful that we can
do even more - have an even bigger
impact. But we can’t do it alone.”
Can you help us find more land?
Are you a planner, lawyer, realtor, banker,
tax assessor or collector interested in
providing your expertise to help us through
the process of locating, evaluating,
negotiating and acquiring land for future
projects? If so, please contact Lee
Pigeau at [email protected]
or (705) 727-0802 ext. 115
G
Building our future continued…
“This allows for professional quality
for the structure of the home while
giving the family and our legions
of volunteers the opportunity to be
a part of an exciting build,” adds
Pigeau.
Groundbreaking for the Berwick
Crescent home is expected to be in
June; with completion in August, and
a dedication ceremony in August or
September.
Devonleigh and Habitat are enjoying
their new relationship. “The team has
been personable and very professional. They’ve guided our team on
everything from design to permits,”
says Pigeau. “We feel that this partnership could set an amazing precedent for home building for mid-sized
Habitat affiliates across Canada. If
our success is adopted, it could assist Habitat in building more quality
homes in needed areas outside of the
major urban centres,” he adds.
This partnership is rare and important, especially as the need for afford-
able housing is growing: “The County
of Simcoe has identified that it needs
2,658 affordable housing units over
the next 10 years, 86 of those in Essa
Township,” notes Pigeau.
Proud of its involvement in this
project, Devonleigh Homes looks forward to its growing partnership with
Habitat For Humanity Huronia.
For more information, visit
www.devonleighhomes.com.
O
Creating community: The great value of in-kind giving
Anne Brandner
F
rom drawing up plans and laying
the foundation to selecting each
detail that makes a house a home,
so much goes into a Habitat build.
That’s why in-kind gifts from community partners are so vital to Habitat
Huronia’s work.
Whether providing boxes of nails or
light fixtures, painting walls or completing the plumbing, our gift-in-kind
donors are the lifeblood of Habitat
builds. Community partners not only
give valuable time and materials, but
they share Habitat’s vision and champion the mission to others.
Con nFe
on
rnse
danletuow
r, co
ners
mm
Keos
n si
anm rean
, so
e lu
Fred
ptat
Habitat Hur d Di
eric
i te
kw
mitdo
h lent
onia CEO Le
e Pigeau.
Ferndale Trim is just
such a partner. Ferndale owners Ken
and Diane Frederick have donated
labour and materials for all the interior
trim and doors on each of Habitat’s
last five builds, saving the organization
thousands of dollars each time. They
also regularly donate materials to the
ReStore to further support builds.
And that’s
not all. Diane
“There’s
ore loves to
nothing m an donate her
th
own time on
precious g
builds, too.
investin
e
m
i
t
r
u
“When you
yo
s
t
n
e
l
a
t
give not
d
an
”
.
y
a
w
just your
in this
money
but your time,” says
Diane, “it has a huge impact on you
and on your family, especially kids,
who are always watching what you do
and how you spend your time.”
The power of gratitude
Another of Habitat’s amazing gift-inkind donors is Les Courts, an electrician and owner of local business Earth
Electric.
Les and
his team
have generously
donated
their professional
labour for
electrical
services on
cormLe- s
r, ne
ictuow
trn
on
ecse
rthnEl
C
Eaon
ith two
w
t)
ef
(l
the last five
m.
team
Courts
atsi te
luofpthi
so
,
re
m
mossi members
builds, saving Habitat
thousands of dollars on each build.
Diane remembers a key
moment in
“When partners like Diane,
her partnerKen and Les give of their
ship with
time and skills, they make
“Our gift
-inHabitat:
a sacrifice for someone
kind don
“On a build
ors
else’s real gain,” says Julie
are the
in Alliston,
Brennan
of Habitat’s Famlifeblood
I met the
of
ily and Build Services. “That
our build
soon-to-bes.”
kind of generosity is inspirhomeowning. And it’s what community
ers, a woman
is made of.”
and her children.
They participated in every way Do you or your company have goods you’d
like to donate? Are you interested in sharing
possible, so excited to build
your professional skill set with Habitat? Visit
their home. That’s when it hit me, all
www.habitathuronia.com or call Julie Brenthat gratitude, and I was moved to
nan of Family and Build Services at (705)
tears. “Ken and I are so thankful we
can tuck our children in at night in our 727-0802 ext 103.
own home. Now,” she continues, “we
Anne Brandner is a freelance writer and
have the privilege of helping others
editor, and the new Editor of “On the Home
experience that, too. Really, there’s
Front.” You can reach Anne
at [email protected].
nothing more precious than investing
your time and talents in this way.”
What is a Habitat buy back home?
Through its “buy back policy,” Habitat retains the right of first refusal on
each Habitat home, should the homeowner decide to sell. Habitat will, in
turn, sell the home to another deserving Habitat qualified family. It’s just
one of the ways we keep costs low and help as many families as possible!
M
Connect with us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HabitatHuronia
Follow us on Twitter @HabitatHuronia
or mark our website as a favourite
http://www.habitathuronia.com
Events & Updates
Dragon Boat
Race Barrie
An evening of food and beverages to overwhelm the senses! Sample drinks
and food while learning a thing or two about what makes them great!
Sheldon Creek Dairy’s 4th annual Day on the Farm, June 20, 10am-3pm
Want to learn more about
where your food comes
from? Join us for a familyfriendly event and first-hand
look at Ontario agriculture
and food production.
Wednesday May 27, 2015 6:30pm - 9:00pm
The Bank Nightclub 66 Dunlop St E, Barrie
Tickets: $25 per person available from www.habitathuronia.com
-Farmers’ market, live music,
kids’ games, face painting and
kids’ educational sessions. Admission: Donation
to Habitat Huronia!
August 22nd
We’re looking for 25 people
to join our Habitat House
Dragons for 4 practices,
fundraising and an amazing
race day! No experience
necessary - we’re in it for fun!
Volunteers Needed! We need
20 volunteers to help with
-Pancake and yogurt breakfast breakfast, kids’ activities
-Self-guided tours of
and parking! To help, please
the dairy farm & dairy
contact Jennifer at 705processing facility
727-0802 x102 or jennifer@
habitathuronia.com.
Activities include:
Email jennifer@
habitathuronia.com or
call (705)727-0802 x102
Don’t miss our Golf for Habitat Tournament!
Wednesday, June 17th
Horseshoe Resort - Highlands Golf Course Join us for a BBQ lunch, on course entertainment, buffet dinner,
silent & live auction and more! Help us reach our goal of $30,000!
Register today at www.habitathuronia.com or call (705)727-0802 x102.
Sponsorship opportunities still available!
New Tecumseth Rocked its first
ever Rock the House Bonspiel!
Barrie and Alliston
Home Shows
Volunteer Appreciation Events
On March 22nd, 8
teams of beginner
and experienced
curlers took to the
ice at the Alliston
Curling Club to raise
money for a future
Habitat Home in New Tecumseth. The
event raised over $1,300 and involved
lots of food, fun, laughs and prizes!
Thanks to our volunteers, sponsors and
main event sponsor Homelife Integrity
Realty Inc. Brokerage for helping to
make it a success.
We enjoyed being
part of the Home
Shows this Spring,
raising awareness
about Habitat and
our ReStores! It
was a great way
to meet our communities, businesses,
shoppers and make a few new friends!
We also won 3rd place in the non-profit
division in New Tecumseth!
We count on our amazing volunteers
in so many ways! To say thank you,
we held our 2015 volunteer appreciation days from April 13 - April 24th.
Volunteers enjoyed games, snacks
and prizes, and a day at the movies at
the Uptown Theater in Barrie! Thank
you to all our volunteers! We couldn’t
build our homes without you!
If you’re a volunteer but weren’t included
in these events, please let us know! Contact
Jennifer at 705-727-0802 x102 or
[email protected]
U
Please DONATE - Bring one family closer to safe and decent housing
Every Canadian has the right to a home they can afford.
Habitat for Humanity Huronia works to make affordable housing accessible to low-income families who could not otherwise afford to own a home. Your support will make the dream of home ownership a reality for a family in our community.
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Habitat for Humanity –
Huronia, Inc.
128 Brock Street
Barrie, ON L4N 2M2
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