LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO
Official Record of Debate
(Hansard)
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
May 28, 2001
Mr Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): This year, Habitat for Humanity of Waterloo region will build a brand new home in New Hamburg in my riding of Waterloo-Wellington.
I want to congratulate the Abarca family, who can look forward to earning the better living conditions for which they dream as they work with Habitat for Humanity to build a home of their own.
Pat McLean, Woolwich township councillor and executive director of Habitat for Humanity in Waterloo region, has advised me that Habitat for Humanity's goal is the elimination of poverty housing. They are doing this for people with strong coordination, public support, work by volunteers, what they call "sweat equity" and homeowner training by the prospective home-owning families.
These homeowners learn home maintenance, how to be good neighbours and how to budget and pay the mortgage, and this formula has been a tremendous success.
Since 1988, Habitat for Humanity has developed 34 homes with families in Waterloo region. Three are being built this year, and five are projected for next year.
The home to be built in Waterloo-Wellington this year is a first for New Hamburg, with special thanks to Doug Wagner, a Ross Dixon financial services adviser, for sponsoring and helping Habitat for Humanity make this dream of a home a reality for the Abarca family.
Last month, my family and I had an opportunity to offer our support and to meet many of the supporters of this project at the Habitat for Humanity fish fry in New Hamburg. Their compassion and understanding of the pride and importance of home ownership for families is inspiring to all of us, and I encourage everyone to help Habitat for Humanity give a hand up to people in our communities across this great province. |
