You may not think of construction work as the best way to spend your free time, but what if it meant a new home for a family in need?
By Priya Panda
If it weren’t for her mother, 19-year-old Nicole Dong may never have heard of Habitat for Humanity Toronto. Through her mother’s advertising firm, Nicole became aware of the local chapter of a worldwide organization that, in simple terms, builds homes for people who need them—effectively helping to break the cycle of poverty. She became intrigued with the affiliation’s non-profit mission to provide “a hand up, not a hand out” to families who wouldn’t ordinarily have the chance to own a home. As a young student, she didn’t see herself becoming so involved in the day-to-day activities at HFHT. That was until she got down and dirty, participating in the Mother’s Day 2007 build at a site in east Toronto.
It’s the type of place where you might meet and work alongside Saeeda Omar-God, also 19-years-old but positioned on the other end of the spectrum. She’s putting in her 500 hours of “sweat equity.” That’s HFH speak for the amount of physical labour that a family is required to complete in order to have a home built for them. The family must also be able to repay a 25-year interest-free mortgage and currently live in substandard housing.
Saeeda is no stranger to deplorable housing conditions. The Omar-Gods, including mother Muna and brother Saeed moved to Canada from Somalia in 1994. As a single mother new to the country, Muna never imagined being able to own a house. They ended up in a part of the city where many families with a single, low-income end up. Their building was every concerned parent’s nightmare. It was rundown, infested with rats and cockroaches and worst of all, had shady strangers hanging around all day.“We were absolutely ecstatic to find out we were selected by Habitat,” Saeeda says, fondly remembering the day her whole life changed.
Nicole knows that in hectic city life the needy often get overlooked. “I strongly believe that if you are in a position to do so, you should give back to the community and make a difference,” explains Nicole. “It is very surprising to know that in a city, as prosperous as Toronto, there are huge disparity gaps and large segments of the population are at such a disadvantage. I think it is very important for organizations such as HFHT to fill in the huge vacuum and take over this role.”
Since being taken on as a partner family, the Omar-Gods have completed their 500 volunteer hours with the help of family and friends through hands-on building and helping out at HFH Re-Stores that sell gently used renovation supplies. Even more exciting is they have moved into their west Toronto home. “It is a house perfect for the three of us! We really enjoyed decorating it and just love it! With Habitat, we were able to fulfill a dream of ours. Habitat gives hope, and more importantly, an opportunity to better lives.”
Nicole says that’s what it’s all about. “Through volunteering I was able to interact with some of the partner families who received houses and get a sense of how much they appreciated it. It is an unbelievable high to be able to be a part of that process!”
Habitat for Humanity is a grassroots organization building in 73 communities across Canada. To find the affiliate closest to you visit habitat.ca.
The country’s largest Women Build program is taking place in Toronto. Get involved or donate at torontohabitat.ca
