The door opens to a strange, lobby-type area filled with old furniture, tables and office desks, mainly.
The warehouse visible through the next opening looks to be overflowing with random doors off their frames, seemingly randomly-strewn bins of construction material and all types of other miscellaneous household wares, including B次元官网网址� wait B次元官网网址� is that literally the kitchen sink?
Habitat for Humanity has built 18 residential homes in the Capital Region for families in need B次元官网网址� numbers 19 to 22 are currently under construction B次元官网网址� and they donB次元官网网址檛 get a dime of funding from the government or other foundations for operational expenses or administrative operations.
B次元官网网址淭he ReStoreB次元官网网址檚 goal is to raise 100 per cent of our operational funds,B次元官网网址� according to Yolanda Meijer, Habitat for Humanity VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 executive director. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the magic of it. ItB次元官网网址檚 a great model and itB次元官网网址檚 sustainable, because weB次元官网网址檙e not subject to the whims of government programming and government funding.B次元官网网址�
Jim Walker beams about the topic. HeB次元官网网址檚 the manager of the , and itB次元官网网址檚 clear he loves what he does.
B次元官网网址淲e do so many great things as an organization,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚 love my job. IB次元官网网址檓 not making a rich man richer; IB次元官网网址檓 making a difference in the community I love. Knowing that you go to work every day, and youB次元官网网址檙e basically Robin Hood, it feels really good.B次元官网网址�
The difference Habitat for Humanity makes is a significant one, indeed.
For families whose household income is between $34,000 and $59,000 per year, struggling to get ahead in these tough economic times B次元官网网址� often paying half of their income (or more) to a landlord B次元官网网址� Habitat could be the hand up they need.
As Walker explains, itB次元官网网址檚 not that they directly impact homelessness by housing people, one of the common misconceptions about Habitat, but they do relieve some pressures on the housing market and help facilitate upward social mobility for families. ItB次元官网网址檚 a situation whereby families can get out of subsidized housing, opening it up for others who might need it, as well.
Those families are essentially given a no-interest mortgage from Habitat, with payments based on their household income. That allows them to get ahead while paying into their own future, rather than paying the mortgage of a landlord. They build equity, as all the money they pay into their house is theirs.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e all about the stability that a safe and decent place to stay creates for people,B次元官网网址� Meijer says, adding itB次元官网网址檚 amazing what home ownership does for a family in terms of both personal pride and facilitating economic mobility.
The ReStore has another benefit for society, as well, diverting ton of recyclable or reusable material from the regionB次元官网网址檚 landfill B次元官网网址� 550 tons last year, actually, and thatB次元官网网址檚 just from the Capital Region.
Much of what would normally go to the landfill can instead be donated to the ReStore and sold back to others. Walker would like the public to know anything theyB次元官网网址檙e getting rid of that could possibly be resold, theyB次元官网网址檒l gladly accept. B次元官网网址淚f itB次元官网网址檚 in decent condition, and you donB次元官网网址檛 want it, weB次元官网网址檒l take it.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e recently had our environmental assessment done,B次元官网网址� he says, laughing, B次元官网网址渁nd it turns out weB次元官网网址檙e net-positive in terms of greenhouse gas emissions B次元官网网址� even after all the fuel we use to get to work and whatnot B次元官网网址� because of what we divert from the landfill through donations. We reduce more greenhouse gas than we produce.B次元官网网址�
Anyone interested in helping with this endeavour can drop off used goods, including building materials from renovation projects, for example, at 849 Orono Ave. in Langford. Pick-up for large items is available by calling at 250-480-7688.
Another way to help is to go by the store the next time youB次元官网网址檙e interested in saving money.
B次元官网网址淎ll our stuff is priced between 25 and 50 per cent of what youB次元官网网址檇 pay retail,B次元官网网址� Walker says. B次元官网网址淪o anyone looking for a good deal on anything for their home, right down to wall brackets, screws, nails or drawer-pulls, should come by, check it out, and if they see something they need, know that by buying it theyB次元官网网址檙e helping kids.B次元官网网址�
Numerous studies have highlighted the benefits to children of living in a safe and stable home environment such as the ones afforded to families through Habitat projects, Meijer says.
B次元官网网址淐hildren are happier, healthier, perform better in school and develop better overall when theyB次元官网网址檙e in a healthier environment,B次元官网网址� she adds.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the thing,B次元官网网址� Walker says. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e really a childrenB次元官网网址檚 charity in a cunning disguise. Really what weB次元官网网址檙e about is improving results for children over the long term.B次元官网网址�
Find out more about Habitat for Humanity Victoria by visiting .
