2001 Fall BluePrint

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Fall 2001

BLUEPRINT

On The Move In The Greater Vancouver Area

Hard work and generosity makes this possible! Look at 8745 Government Street in Burnaby now...

United Way Contributions Habitat for Humanity of Greater Vancouver can be designated to receive your contribution to the United Way. Look for us on the forms that are distributed during the annual Fall Campaign.

Notes From The Board The summer has been a very busy time and has seen a number of changes in the organisation. Firstly, our Executive Director, Dawn Mount, decided it was time to return to school. Dawn has been with the organisation from the start and put in many hours guiding Habitat from a good idea into a developing affiliate. I would like to extend our thanks for all her hard work and wish her all the best with her studies and future endeavors.

Our first four houses at Government Street now have doors and windows and are almost ready for vinyl siding.

Inside, the plumbing is nearing completion. We will soon begin the next steps: heating, electrical wiring and drywall, which will transform the sites into inhabitable houses.

We hope to have the families “home for the holidays”. We know that we can achieve this objective, provided that we get enough volunteers. Come build with us!

Each of us can play a part in realizing the Dream of Habitat - to ‘change the world’ one home at a time.

To make the Habitat Dream a reality, we need three things - Time, Volunteers and Resources.

Come on out and join us! Together we can do it!

Dawn has not completely left the family; she will continue to volunteer, using her experience and knowledge to help and support Ronda Field and the Family Selection Committee. The Family Selection Committee has been very busy over the summer, reviewing almost 100 applications for the homes in row three.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Raymond Koehler as our new Executive Director. Raymond brings 25 years of experience in the field of non-profit organisations and fund development. We all look forward to working with Raymond over the next few years as we develop the affiliate and build many more Habitat homes.

I would also like to welcome our new Construction Supervisor, Russell Hanson, who brings over 25 years experience to the project. The site construction has made great progress during the summer, with lock up having been achieved during the past week.

One major area where we currently need volunteers is on our fundraising committee, which has been without a chair for several months. The committee has recently been split into two groups, one focusing on the large corporate sponsors and the other working on smaller fundraising campaigns. To ensure the long-term stability of the organisation we need to find some committed volunteers to work together to raise the awareness of Habitat as well as bring in money to keep us building. If you are interested in helping out with this fundamental committee, please contact the office.

We are honoured that Habitat Greater Vancouver has been the organisation chosen as the recipient of the next Ismaili Walk, to be held in September, 2002. We are looking forward to working with the Ismaili Community as well as raising money and awareness of Habitat in the community.

I am also excited to announce our new community partnership with BCIT. Through this partnership we anticipate building strong links with the students at large. We hope they can contribute new specialized skills about the construction of the homes and the building of the affiliate.

I would like to close out by thanking all of the dedicated volunteers that have taken the idea of forming a Habitat Affiliate in Vancouver through to where it is today, with the first four homes in Burnaby nearing completion. I feel that a great deal has been achieved so far, but there is still more to be done over the coming years. Our simple beginnings will help us to continue building a strong organisation that will see many people in our community in the Lower Mainland live the Habitat dream of home ownership.

Executive Director, Raymond Koehler, and to view the progress of the four houses in Phase 1. Thanks to all the volunteers and participants who made this event possible!

Snap a picture and help a family move into livable housing in Vancouver The deadline for first annual Expressions of Humanity photography contest was on September 30th, 2001. Joe Kelly, the coordinator of the contest, called for photographers of all levels of skill to take photos that capture the artists’ interpretation of humanity. The submissions were judged on their creativity and ability to express acts of humanity. All of the proceeds of this event will go to Habitat for Humanity.

In addition to winning great prizes, top photographs were showcased at a gala exhibition on Thursday, October 18th at Vertical Restaurant (3116 West Broadway). The fund-raising gala included award presentations, entertainment and the oppurtunity for those attending to learn more about Habitat For Humanity.

The event was a great success and we thank everyone who participated and those who helped make the contest happen.

First Prize This inscription inspires me to imagine a strong, wise matriarch who, in her 100 years, must have given so much to her family and enriched so many people’s lives. Giving to others is the most basic act of humanity. And what a gift we are given by Nana’s family, who cared enough to share their love and grief and gratitude in a way that allows us all an opportunity to rest and reflect and be touched by this woman’s life. I am reminded how to be human.

Thanks to everyone, and keep up the good work.

Simon Gould Chair of the Board

Volunteer Barbecue A barbecue was held on Sunday, July 15th at the Habitat site in Burnaby in order to thank Habitat volunteers. Despite the rain, the event was well attended by volunteers, the Habitat families and our friendly neighbours from New Life Community Church. Many came out to meet our new

Title: She Always had Time for Others

Photographer: Carolyn Affleck

For complete details visit: www.geocities.com/expressions_of_humanity.com

Southern “House”-pitality An experience of Habitat of Greater Memphis

By Melissa Gugni, Volunteer

As the 15 of us loaded up the utility van, it was hard to imagine what we would experience in the following week.

We were a group of 13 high school students, with two fearless leaders, gearing up for the 12 hour drive from a small northern suburb of Detroit to Memphis, Tennessee. Many of us had barely left the confines of the Michigan border before deciding to spend six days working on a house for Habitat for Humanity. I was 15, and I initially saw the trip as an opportunity to take a road trip with my two best friends. I don’t think the work aspect occurred to me until the morning after we arrived. “Time to get up! The truck picks us up in 10 minutes!” What?!? It’s 5:00 am! After some groaning and eye rubbing, fifteen pairs of steel toed boots were lined up on the side of the street with their groggy owners inside of them. Yet by the end of the week, we all gained new skills, a few scratches and a lot of pride over what a group of young people could accomplish. On the last day, the family who would eventually move into the house paid us a visit. There were lots of hugs and laughs shared.

That was over ten years ago, and I feel that the experience is one that I will never forget. I learned that everyone can gain something by being involved with Habitat - our family gained a home, and the 15 of us leaned volumes about community, sharing and how to swing a hammer!

INTERNATIONAL CORNER Habitat for Humanity Celebrates 25 Years Indianapolis, Indiana -- Habitat for Humanity commemorated 25 years of building houses, but the schedule of local activities was forced to change from what was originally planned. The terrorist attacks of September 11th and its crippling aftermath limited the ability of many of Habitat’s volunteers, staff and guests to travel to Indianapolis.

More than 3,200 attendees were expected. Nearly 500 of the delegates, many from the 79 countries in which Habitat builds houses, were already in Indianapolis on that tragic Tuesday. “Habitat people are people who care,” said Millard Fuller, Founder and President of Habitat for Humanity International as he explained the organization’s decision to proceed with local events. “We draw strength from our God

and from one another at a time like this when there is so much sadness in our land.”

Habitat for Humanity has built more than 100,000 houses in its first 25 years. The activities in Indianapolis were planned as a celebration of that milestone and as a rededication to the organization’s ultimate goal of eliminating substandard housing from the world. Fuller told attendees at Wednesday morning’s devotion service that Habitat should not allow the forces of evil to alter what has already been accomplished by the group he founded 25 years ago.

Habitat will be at the Fall Home Show again this year...

It’s that time of year again…The Fall Home Show was on Thursday to Sunday, Oct. 11-14, at BC Place Stadium. A number of volunteers were be on hand to help spread the word about the project at 8745 Government Street in Burnaby, and our current needs for volunteers and resources.

Thanks to all volunteers who have participated in this event!

We had a really good response from the public and look forward to having many new volunteers with us.

Warehouse Space Wanted Habitat for Humanity of Greater Vancouver is looking for donated warehouse space, approximately 4,000 square feet, for the storage of used building materials for a period of about one year.

Habitat for Humanity is an inclusive, non-profit, non-government organization that rehabilitates and builds simple (generally 1,000 - 1,200 ft2) affordable housing. All homes are sold to families in need of adequate shelter, using noprofit, interest-free mortgages. To keep the cost of the homes down, the group relies on volunteer labourers (of all skill levels) and donated building materials and equipment.

Every day our office receives many calls from people wishing to donate used lumber, appliances, and other items to help with our current building project in Burnaby. Other Habitat for Humanity affiliates turn these material donations into cash by selling them at a “Restore” retail outlet. Our affiliate plans to start such a store in the next year, and in the meantime we need space to store these materials.

We are willing to pay heat and light costs, and are open to negotiations and suggestions regarding such a space. We can provide the owner with a tax receipt if he/she so wishes.

Please contact Gloria Levi at 604-681-5618 for further details.

The Ismaili walk in 2002 is donating its proceeds to Habitat for Humanity.

This year’s Ismaili Walk was on Sunday, September 9th in Stanley Park. The walk celebrated life and hope in our local community and the hard work, commitment and shared spirit of the Ismaili Community was felt by all in attendance.

Many of our volunteers and our Executive Director, Raymond Koehler joined our Ismaili friends on the walk. We are proud to announce that Habitat for Humanity has been chosen as the recipient of next year’s walk. We are excited to work with the Ismaili community planning for the event during the next year.

Working together we will bring new light into a troubled World.

Sponsors Corner

• We are looking for skilled handy-persons who have some residential construction experience to help us throughout the fall and winter as we complete our first four townhouses. Come on out and help lead unskilled volunteers working on general construction tasks. If you think you can contribute in this most important way, please phone the volunteer hotline at: 444-8090 today.

The following committees are also looking for dedicated people:

• In-Kind Committee- looks for individuals and corporations to donate materials and supplies to be used in constructing and outfitting the homes.

Some sales experience is desirable or a willingness to reach out to the community.

• Family Partnership Committee- Each chosen Habitat family is assigned a volunteer partner to guide them through the responsibilities of homeownership, and to see that the 500 hours of sweat equity is completed. Individuals with Social Work or similar experience would be a very valuable addition to this committee. This committee requires a year commitment.

• Family Selection Committee- This committee seeks out, screens (including home visits), evaluates and recommends potential homeowners to the Board of Directors using specified criteria.

Requires people to process applications, interview applicant and follow through with the necessary correspondence and paperwork. This committee requires at least a one year commitment.

The City of Burnaby recently presented Habitat for Humanity of Greater Vancouver with a cheque for $6,000, in support of the bioswale that is being constructed for the townhomes at 8745 Government Street.

Is Habitat For Humanity Of Greater Vancouver Looking For You? THE CONSTRUCTION SITE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!

• Fund Raising Committee- without fund raising, our important work would come to a halt. We are in great need of experienced fund raisers or people with corporate connections to help with this essential work, as well as folks willing to take on smaller fundraising projects. Please call Ray at 604-681-5618 if you’re interested.

For More Information Phone: (604) 681-5618 Fax: (604) 872-0223 Visit us at: 125 East 12th Ave, Vancouver, B.C Monday to Friday 9:00am. - 5:00 pm.

Mailing Address: PO Box 60577 Granville Park, Vancouver, BC V6H 4B9 E-mail: habitat@vancouver.net www.vancouverhabitat.bc.ca