One of the great joys of 2022 was being able to be together again. We saw the return of our team's ability to collaborate in person. We saw the return of events like Build Days and Women Build. Being together also allowed for moments like home dedications and groundbreakings, where we could stand alongside our volunteers, donors, and families to celebrate what we achieved.
The past three years have been challenging, but we used that time to strengthen our organizational practices. We tested assumptions and tried new approaches. All of this happened while we continued to build homes and connect with families in need.
In 2022, we celebrated that over 1,000 children have had the opportunity to grow up in a house built by Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta. This is a milestone we are very proud of, as we know all those futures have been made brighter. We are also proud that 100% of our Habitat families maintained their housing through the pandemic. This is testament to the hard work, resiliency, and determination of these families. It also proves our belief that a community coming together to support each other makes a lasting difference.
The foundational work we did the past three years sets the stage for our next level of growth. In 2023, we are embarking on a $7M home construction program, our largest ever.
When I look across all our teams: our ReStore social enterprise, fund development, family services, construction, finance, marketing, and volunteers, I see elevated confidence in our ability to deliver our affordable homeownership program. We know there are more families in need and we are stepping up to that challenge.
Thank you for being part of our cause.
took possession of their home
or signed to become a homeowner
under construction or completed
gave 29,497 hours of their time
generated for HFHSA
of waste diverted from landfills
Mark and Maria’s story is the perfect encapsulation of not only the theme of reunite but also an embodiment of everything that we strive towards at Habitat for Humanity. Their story begins over a decade ago. Mark and Maria met in their small town in the Philippines back in 2010 and their love was instantaneous. It was the beginning of not only a new friendship, but their forever. “The love of a lifetime,” Mark recalls.
Although the relationship started with Mark and Maria in the same place, it quickly transitioned into a long-distance relationship when Maria moved to Saudi Arabia to work as a nurse. After Maria’s contract ended it was Mark’s turn to work abroad, and he moved to Canada in 2014.
In 2017, Mark became a permanent resident of Canada after he was sponsored by his employer and helped by his friend through the process. Shortly after becoming a Canadian citizen, and after six years of living a long-distance love story which was sustained by constant communication, patience, trust, respect and understanding, Mark flew home to the Philippines and married Maria.
With Mark’s residency, he was able to bring Maria to Canada in 2018. After many long years apart as partners, they were now together as husband and wife. Mark and Maria welcomed their son, Jarred, into their lives in July of 2021. Their family was quickly outgrowing their one-bedroom basement unit and they needed to start looking for a new place to call home.
This is where Habitat for Humanity enters their story. When their friend told them about the program, they were thrilled to find out they could own their own home!
Soon after hearing about the program, Mark and Maria qualified for homeownership and have already completed more than half of their 500 hours with the help of good friends who have volunteered for them at Habitat’s ReStore!
Mark, Maria and Jarred will finally have a place to call their own. To gather and celebrate with friends and families, and to grow their family “with God at the center”. They have a place that they can call their very own home.
We are so excited to welcome Mark and Maria to their home this summer and to be part of this next chapter of their story!
It is with great pleasure that we present the annual report. I'm proud to have the opportunity to report that Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta has continued to make significant progress towards their mission of providing affordable homeownership for families in need in Southern Alberta.
Throughout some very challenging times, Habitat has continued to thrive in 2022. The organization successfully completed several builds which now provide safe and stable housing for several families in Calgary and Southern Alberta. Teams have focused on building on the success of Habitat's ReStore locations, diverting items from the landfill while simultaneously contributing $5.2 Million gross revenue to Habitat's operations.
Additionally, the leadership team has continued to work towards long-term strategic goals, including increasing operational efficiency, financial sustainability, building stronger partnerships with community organizations and donors, and increasing awareness of Habitat's mission and impact in our community.
None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the support of the incredible staff, volunteers, donors, and partners. We are grateful for the community's ongoing commitment to the Habitat cause and we will continue to build stronger communities through affordable homeownership in the years to come.
David Barber
Retired, Vice President
Canada Broadline Distribution
Gordon Food Services
*indicates Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta Board Member
We value accuracy in our donor report listing. In the event there was an oversight or error, please accept our apologies and contact donations@habitatsouthernab.ca for correction.
