Habitat for Humanity Manitoba (Habitat Manitoba) have been presenting the keys to four families throughout Manitoba in Virden, Winkler and Brandon in the month of October.
Media Release - Habitat Manitoba
These homes will provide strength, stability and security for these families. Community partners and volunteers worked tirelessly to make this important moment possible by offering families an opportunity to purchase a safe and decent home through Habitat’s affordable homeownership program and a unique financing partnership.
The largest source of funding for building Habitat Manitoba homes are the mortgage payments made by our 260+ families who are benefiting from the Habitat model in providing safe and decent homes for their children. The second largest source of funds come from the generous individuals and businesses and/or corporations in Manitoba who collaborate with us in so many ways to work alongside our families.
In addition, since 2019, the Government of Canada has made a total funding commitment of $8.4M through the Affordable Housing Fund under the National Housing Strategy towards Habitat Manitoba projects, including these homes. This funding commitment includes a Black Families Funding investment of $4.7M.
“Organizations like Habitat for Humanity are invaluable partners as we work to tackle the housing crisis and ensure that every Canadian has a safe place to call their own,” said the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNor. “I am proud that we could support these new homes across Virden, Winkler and Brandon and I wish these families the very best as they start their new chapters.”
In March of 2023, the Government of Canada and Habitat for Humanity Canada announced an additional $25 million investment to build 500 new affordable homes across Canada over the next three years. This brings the total federal investment in Habitat for Humanity to $80.8 million through the Government of Canada’s Affordable Housing Fund.
“The path to homeownership is an involved and in-depth process that requires hard work, time and commitment by the future homeowners,” says Jamie Hall, CEO of Habitat Manitoba, “All of which helps to strengthen their long-term success and contributes to future homes being built for additional families in our province.”
Habitat Manitoba is also currently working on two large development projects.
In Winnipeg, Habitat Manitoba is building 11 blocks of five townhouses in Transcona. In September, Habitat Manitoba turned over the first 15 sets of keys to the Habitat families moving into the largest and most ambitious project Habitat Manitoba has ever embarked upon, which will be home to another 40 Habitat families when completed in 2026. The project will be home to approximately 275 people, including 175 children. The houses are exceptionally energy efficient and when completed will have a carbon-free zero footprint.
Habitat Manitoba has also started work on building housing for 20 families on Panet Avenue in the Concordia area of Winnipeg.
Habitat Manitoba also supports a strong network of Chapters in 12 communities across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario where community volunteers raise funds and build homes for selected families in their communities. In 2024, seven homes are being built in our Chapter communities.
Habitat Manitoba is a strong partner in the communities we build in and are looking forward to many more key ceremony celebrations in the coming months and years.
Habitat Manitoba's Senior VP of Program Delivery, Steve Krahn, says Manitoba has a lot to be proud of with the many accomplishments through their program, but also our province's history with Habitat for Humanity Canada.
"The very first Habitat build project took place in Winkler in 1985, and then the very first affiliate started a couple of years later," shares Krahn. "Manitoba is the first affiliate Habitat partner in Canada, since 1987. And in addition to that, the very first ReStore, that idea was also formed right here in Manitoba and has gone on to become a global phenomenon for Habitat to assist in covering our overhead costs. We encourage people to visit our ReStores in Brandon and Winnipeg and find some really good deals at!"
Please listen to more with Habitat Manitoba's VP of Program Delivery, Steve Krahn, below!
Here are the main ReStore locations in Manitoba:
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Winnipeg (Archibald St.)
- Address: 60 Archibald St, Winnipeg, MB R2J 0V8
- Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Sun 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM2
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Winnipeg (Inkster Blvd.)
- Address: 1565 Inkster Blvd, Winnipeg, MB R2X 1R2
- Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Sun 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM3
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Brandon
- Address: 630 Rosser Ave, Brandon, MB R7A 0K7
- Hours: Tue-Fri 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Sat 11:00 AM - 5:30 PM, Closed on Sun and Mon3
Proceeds from the ReStore support Habitat for Humanity Manitoba's home building projects, helping local low-income families achieve affordable homeownership.