Working toward a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to call home Impact Report

Transcription

1 Working toward a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to call home Impact Report

2 Letter from Habitat Canada President Mark Rodgers To our friends at Siemens Canada, On behalf of Habitat for Humanity Canada and Habitat Affiliates, thank you for the commitment you have made to helping Habitat partner families. Through our work we have witnessed first-hand the positive and lasting impact that homeownership can have on families. When a family owns their own home the parents are more financially secure, have better employment opportunities and become more invested in their communities. Their children are happier, healthier and tend to do better in school. Yet, despite the tremendous benefits of homeownership, it has become increasingly difficult for low-income families in Canada to find affordable housing that meets their basic needs. Habitat Partner Family Christina, Emily and Lorcan Ryan. As a result, poor living conditions and inadequate housing are facts of everyday life for too many Canadian families. Families like the Ryans: Christina Ryan struggled to hold down two jobs while raising her daughters Lorcan, the eldest, and Emily. Emily has special needs and requires a wheelchair and other additional costs to keep her healthy. When the Ryan s apartment building was sold to a condo developer, Christina struggled to find another affordable and wheelchair accessible place to house her family. Worried and anxious, she applied for public housing, which did not work out.

3 Thanks to the support of our generous partners and volunteers, Habitat Canada was able to provide the Ryan family with their own safe, affordable and accessible home, with ramps and wide doorways for Emily s wheelchair. Christina no longer has to work two jobs and can spend more time with Emily and Lorcan. The girls are now thriving and Christina has time to involve Emily in music programs and performances. Lorcan was able to focus on successfully finishing high school - things that just weren t possible before. By supporting Habitat Canada you are not just providing for the bricks and mortar to build a house, you re giving Canadian families the chance at a brighter future. On behalf of Habitat Canada and the families we serve, we thank Siemens Canada for its tremendous contribution. In partnership, Mark Rodgers President and CEO Habitat for Humanity Canada

4 Executive Summary Siemens Canda and Habitat Canada have been strong partners for the past five years. During that time Siemens Canada has invested over $300,000 in cash and gift-in-kind donations in support of Habitat Canada s homebuilding program. In 2015, Siemens Canda helped build safe, decent and affordable homes for 228 Canadian families in need with an investment of $70,000 in support of Habitat Affiliates across Canada.

5 2015 Partnership Highlights Habitat Build Days In 2015, 184 Siemens Canada employees swung hammers side-by-side on Habitat build sites in Vancouver. Edmonton, Calgary, Hamilton, London, Brampton, Peterborough, and Ottawa, contributing over 1,184 volunteer hours. In Ottawa, ON, Siemens Canada employees helped HFH Greater Ottawa build a townhouse for the Boakye family: You can t help but be impressed by the resolve and commitment of Ragan Boakye. After being turned down for Habitat GO s homeownership program, she went back to school to pursue a new career as a personal support worker because she wanted to provide a better life for her two boys. The Boakye Family, HFH Greater Ottawa Partner Family In her old neighborhood, Ragan worried constantly about raising Showtell, 13, and Shomari, 9, in an environment known for gang and drug activity. Just like all of our Partner Families, Ragan was determined to make her dream of homeownership come true. In our new and safe community my boys will be able to play outside without fear or negative influences and for this I am very grateful. - Ragan Boakye Siemens Canada 2015 Habitat Build Days

6 Beyond Bricks & Mortar With over 3.3 million Canadians (1 in 9 or 1.6 million Canadian households) and 735,000 children in need of adequate housing (Canadian Housing Observer, 2014), Siemens Canada s support of Habitat Canada had an impact that went beyond bricks and mortar. A 2015 study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group provided a quantitative assessment of the social return on investment (SROI) of Habitat for Humanity in Canada. When families are provided with safe, decent and affordable housing, the positive outcomes are tremendous. After moving into their new home: 22% of children attained a bachelor s degree or better, compared to 8% in the control group 50% of Habitat family members are now physically active versus the 15% national average 60% of Habitat families reported a reduction in food bank usage 70% of Habitat families donated their time and money to charities Habitat families experienced an increase in the quality of their employment families worked fewer jobs with greater stability The Ryan Family, Habitat Partner Family The study determined that for every $1 invested in the program, $4 of benefits accrue to society. In 2015, Habitat Canada built a total of 228 homes generating $39 million worth of social good in Canada. Siemens Canada s gift of $70,000 resulted in over $280,000 worth of

7 2015 Financials In 2015, Siemens Canada generously invested $70,000 in support of Habitat Affiliates across Canada.

8 Thank you Habitat Canada, Habitat Affiliates and our partner families would like to take this opportunity to thank Siemens Canada for its steadfast support and generous commitment to helping Canadian families realize their dreams of homeownership. We look forward to many more years of working in partnership toward a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. Chris Ide National Director, Major and Corporate Gifts Habitat for Humanity Canada