Reasons why Habitat for Humanity depends on volunteers

Habitat for Humanity believes every human deserves to afford a safe and decent place to live.

It’s a values-based approach to solving an economic problem.

In Huron County, this economic problem has accelerated recently, with the cost of housing going up 63 per cent in five years.

The same issue spans across Canada now in every town and city.

Habitat for Humanity founded itself by people knowingly volunteering to help battle harmful economic inequality (poverty).

Habitat depends on volunteerism because it’s how we build affordable homes.

Individuals and community, knowingly volunteering to give their time, money or things (land, stock, bonds, gently used homes and building items for sale and recycling) that fuel affordable homebuilding.

Locally, in Huron County last year, we had 300 volunteers give their time, and 120 are regularly volunteering.

Many of these folk participate to help Habitat for Humanity build affordable homes by being active on our board of directors, with advocacy and committee work, time retailing in our ReStores (Goderich and Wingham), ‘swinging hammers’ or learning how on our Build Days, fundraising and special events.

Volunteerism has fuelled Habitat for Humanity, building 20 affordable homes in Huron County and counting.

We’re planning to build dozens more affordable homes in 2026, community support and volunteerism permitting.

Incidentally, when families and individuals want to quality for buying a habitat home, they agree to volunteer 500 hours with our Habitat, a charitable and non-profit organisation.

One of the ways people can volunteer is by raising awareness about affordable housing by wearing our logos while helping other community groups, churches or other non-profits.

Habitat for Humanity is looking forward to announcing an exciting start to our Build More campaign this year, and to bring more affordable homes to Goderich, Wingham and Exeter.

Rob M. Evans is Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Huron County