GOHBA and Algonquin College team to construct Habitat for Humanity NCR Blitz Build project
Ottawa Construction News staff writer
More than 40 local companies and hundreds of volunteers teamed with Algonquin College students in early April to turn an empty lot into a two-storey, 1,800 sq. ft. home to be sold for Habitat for Humanity National Capital Region in the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association’s first Blitz Build project.
Ottawa’s home building community paired with employees and student volunteers for the three-day project April 4 to 6 in Tartan Homes’ Havencrest community near Strandherd and Fallowfield in Barrhaven.
The initiative started with Tartan’s donation of the lot for the project at a deeply discounted price. Other sponsors quickly came on board, including Kott Lumber and Laurysen Kitchens.
This is not a typical Habitat build, where families are selected and are expected to pay for their new homes with sweat equity and a mortgage geared to their income. The Blitz Build home will be sold on the open market, with proceeds going towards future Habitat NCR projects.
“Forging new connections between the college and community groups like Habitat for Humanity and the GOHBA provides our students and employees with opportunities to learn and give back,” says Algonquin College president Kent MacDonald. “We are thrilled to be participating in this very important fundraiser, benefiting an outstanding organization. We are especially excited to be creating this opportunity for our students to have a service learning experience and to build strong ties to their community before graduating.”
“We’re excited to join forces with the GOHBA and Algonquin College for three days of intense building,” said Alexis Ashworth, Habitat For Humanity NCR’s CEO. “The funds raised will help us build more homes with hard-working families in our community who are in need of safe, decent and affordable housing.”
“As the representative of the 25,000 men and women working in Ottawa’s homebuilding industry, we are honoured to be supporting Habitat for Humanity,” said GOHBA executive director John Herbert, “Ottawa’s homebuilders are looking forward to working with the staff and students of Algonquin College on this important community initiative.”
You can see a complete list of supporters and images of the build as it was completed at http://blitzbuild.ca.
