From this page you can see the details of any of the builds we have in progress including schedule and updates.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Keswick Build:  AN UPDATE

Thursday July 15, 2010:  As of today, Habitat for Humanity York Region is expecting to begin building our 11th home in mid-August.  Following an approval of a revision to the site plans (which was granted on July 12, 2010) the site needs to be cleared and the foundation laid.  Once this is completed, our teams of volunteer builders can begin to help construct the house.  Continue to watch this web site for more information.

Keswick Groundbreaking held on May 4, 2010

May 4, 2010 was a great day to celebrate the start of a new life for a deserving family in Keswick.  Habitat for Humanity York Region help the groundbreaking ceremony at 262A Terrace Drive with Charlene and her family.  This is the beginning of the build process - a process that will see volunteers work throughout the summer to build the house that will become a home for Charlene and her family.

Preparing to build in Keswick 2010

Building homes.  Building hope.  That's what Habitat for Humanity York Region strives to do for families in our community.  In 2010, Habitat York will build a home for a large family from Keswick.  This is their story.

Charlene, a mother of one, adopted her sister's and friend's five daughters to provide them with a secure home life, free from abuse and drugs.  However, Charlene has struggled to find affordable, clean and safe housing in York Region for her family.  Over the past several years, the family has moved several times - sometimes into crowded, moldy basement apartments.  Occasionally, Charlene has been forced to split the family up amongst friends and family to provide shelter.  She has also battled a rare form of breast cancer and went through extensive radiation treatments.  Throughout all this, Charlene has worked tirelessly as the family's sole supporter to provide a better life for her family.

A former landlord told Charlene about Habitat for Humanity and encouraged her to pursue her quest for home ownership through them.  Not totally convinced, Charlene had a chance meeting with a Habitat York homeowner who invited her and her family to her home to see "what a Habitat home is all about".  After that visit, Charlene made the call to Habitat York and began the application and qualification process tobe considered as a potential Habitat homeowner.

She still remembers receiving the letter advising her that she was approved, "The letter arrived and I gathered all the girls together so we could hear the news at the same time.  Everyone was so excited - the girls were jumping up and down on the bed!"

In the fall of 2009, Charlene and her family sat down with Habitat staff to go over the blueprints of the house.  Advised that groundbreaking would happen in the spring of 2010, the family called everyone they knew to tell them the good news.  Presently living in a basement that they share with another tenant, the family cannot wait for the day when work begins at what will be their new address:  262A Terrace Drive, Keswick.

With tears in her eyes, Charlene says, "This is a fresh start for us.  My oldest girl will start college in the fall and Habitat is giving her and all my daughters the chance to live in a stable home environment.  What you are doing, this isn't for me - it's for them."

Stay tuned for Part two of this story as we talk to Charlene and her family during the building of their new Habitat home.