Habitat for Humanity Toronto

A Housing Dream Comes True for Ontario Region Habitat Families

Volunteers from CMHC's Ontario Region are donning hard hats and tool belts and joining other volunteers to help build a new home for Mohamud Jama and his family.

The home is part of a Habitat for Humanity project at Neilson Road and McLevin Avenue, near highway 401 in Scarborough, the largest Habitat build ever in Canada. The McLevin Woods project started in summer 2003, in an 11-day building blitz that saw many of the components built in Habitat's Toronto "house factory". Now, close to 100 enthusiastic CMHC volunteers will be on site erecting 40 townhomes over the course of the blitz build ending July 18, 2004. Work on the homes will continue through the summer and fall. Later this year, the Jama family will receive the keys to their new CMHC sponsored home, which they will have built along with the many volunteers working with Habitat for Humanity.

A CMHC team builds a wall section during 2003 building blitz.


Moving a floor section during the 2003 building blitz.

CMHC volunteers at the Habitat Toronto house factory.

Habitat for Humanity is an independent, charitable housing program that strives to eliminate poor quality housing by building homes in partnership with families in need. They also provide interest-free mortgages to families who otherwise would not be able to purchase their own home.

CMHC's commitment

As part of our Adopt-a-House sponsorship, CMHC has provided a donation towards the cost of building the Jama home as well as project volunteers for each day of the building blitz. Coupled with volunteer labour, donated materials and the recipient family's 500 hours of "sweat equity", CMHC's contribution will result in a $200,000 home.

"CMHC is committed to housing quality, affordability and choice for Canadians", says Peter Friedmann, General Manager for CMHC Ontario. "So it gives us a great deal of satisfaction to be an Adopt-a-House sponsor and partner with Habitat for Humanity to help the Jama family realize their dream of home ownership."

CMHC is equally committed to providing the family with important information about how to maintain their home. A recently developed homeowners' training program will be offered to the 40 families receiving homes in the Toronto build, along with free copies of the CMHC Homeowner's Manual, useful in helping new homeowners maintain their homes.

CMHC volunteers at the 2004 on-site build.

A CMHC team in front of the Jama family home.

Habitat for Humanity's Role

Building a door frame at the on-site build.

"When we started in Toronto, sixteen years ago, we built half a house each year. In year thirteen we built nine houses, in our fifteenth year, we built seventeen homes and this year we are building forty!" says Neil Hetherington, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Toronto. "This momentum has been made possible because the local corporations, government partnerships and the general public have joined with us to make affordable housing a priority."

Why will hundreds of people report to the site early each morning for the next few days? Because helping to build homes at a low cost is about helping people to help themselves. Along with Mohamud Jama and his family who will be helping to build their own home, Habitat will rely on volunteer labour and as much donated or cost-reduced material as possible. Fundraising will help offset expenses of materials, services and land. Financial support is received from individuals, corporations, service groups and the faith community. Mortgage payments from current homeowners fund future projects. These are some of the ways new homes are created to miraculously change people's lives.

Meet the Jama Family

Since he immigrated to Canada in 1989 from Somalia, Mohamud Jama held steadfast to the dream that he would one day be a homeowner.

A devoted family man, Mohamud is the sole breadwinner for his family. His wife, Deka, is upgrading her English skills in school. Daughter Hodan is 11, son Yusuf is 6. His mother Dahabo, also lives with the family. The family currently resides in a tiny three-bedroom co-op unit. Prior to working at his current job as an ESL instructor in the African community, Mr. Jama made ends meet by working at jobs in factories and warehouses. After paying the rent, bills and supporting a family of five, Mr. Jama found it frustrating to save towards his dream house, and was on the brink of giving up.

Mr. Jama is excited about building his house, and the opportunity for his children to enjoy a more spacious home they can call their own. Currently his big family resides in a tiny three-bedroom co-op unit. Within the first month of volunteering they had worked 200 hours and are eager to work with Habitat in future projects, and continue to tell others about Habitat programs. "I am thankful for those who made my dream come true," he says about the commitment of Habitat for Humanity and its sponsors. "I feel that having our own home will provide my family with a positive and settled future, as well as making us feel 100% Canadian."

How You Can Help

There are lots of ways to support Habitat for Humanity. Gifts from the heart are always welcome. A donation of $25 buys a 50-pound box of nails; $50 buys an interior door. A generous donation of $100 allows for a bedroom window and $250 covers the cost of front and back doors with locks.

To volunteer, contact Habitat for Humanity Toronto at www.torontohabitat.on.ca or call 416-755-7353.