Former Habitat Manitoba Child Rides in 2024 Spirit of Hope Cycling Fundraiser 

Jose Castro, 36, knows first-hand what it is like growing up in a Habitat for Humanity home. In 1991, Castro, his Mother, Father and four siblings moved into their home built by Habitat for Humanity Manitoba on Angus Street in Point Douglas.

Castro recounts a wonderful childhood in his Habitat home and neighbourhood. Calling on friends next door, exploring the area, impromptu hockey games and his first bike donated by a generous community member, sparked his lifelong love of cycling.

This week, Castro will ride in Habitat Manitoba’s Spirit of Hope cycling fundraiser along with 40 other riders who have dedicated themselves to training and fundraising on behalf of Habitat Manitoba.

Spirit of Hope, now in its 5th year, is a three-day adventure that gives cyclists a taste of a long distance, fully supported ride designed for beginners and intermediates. From July 3-5, 2024, Spirit of Hope ventures east through the picturesque landscape of Lake of the Woods, Ontario.

“Cycling makes me happy and gives me a sense of peace. I am riding in Spirit of Hope because it’s a great way to connect with my roots, it gives me a special purpose and it’s a joy to have an opportunity to help families get a home, feel safe and welcome, like my family was helped out,” says Castro. “My experience with Habitat Manitoba has been a blessing from the day we moved in all the way up to the day we sold the house in 2005 and continues to be till this day through the friendships I still maintain.”

Habitat Manitoba built 18 homes on Angus Street and this was the first multiple home dwelling of its kind for the organization that culminated in The Jimmy Carter Work Project coming to Winnipeg for the first time in 1993. Castro has fond memories of growing up in his Habitat home and believes the influence of growing up in a friendly, inclusive community has helped shape his character and is an indication how he treats others in adulthood.

“My Mom and Dad had to work tirelessly just to survive in our home country of El Salvador. They needed a safe place to raise their children, so that we could grow up healthy and happy,” says Castro. “Habitat Manitoba has given hard-working families like mine a chance to thrive. This is something that everyone can get behind as it benefits the community and everyone connected to it.”

Castro currently lives in East Kildonan with his wife, dog and cat, and works at CN, who have been extremely generous by sponsoring Spirit of Hope this year.

“CN is proud to give back to communities where our railroaders live, work and play,” says Suzanne Dalzell, Head of Strategic Partnerships. “We salute our CN railroader Jose Castro and his participation in the Spirit of Hope cycling event that will help Habitat Manitoba build future homes for families in need.”

Habitat Manitoba is working on the largest build in its history on Pandora Avenue West in Transcona that will eventually be home to 55 Habitat Partner families when completed in 2026. The cost to build one Habitat home at the Pandora Avenue West development is over $260,000 (excluding land). Spirit of Hope event participants have raised approximately $100,000 to date, but the riders are still determined to raise more and need the help of Manitoba! Support these riders by donating at habitat.mb.ca.

Habitat Manitoba also wishes to thank the following 2024 Spirit of Hope sponsors Prolex Media, Tétro Design and Woodcock Cycle Works.  

Sign Up for the August Blitz Build! 

From August 13-16, 2024 Habitat Manitoba is hosting a four day Blitz Build at the Pandora Avenue West Development in Transcona. The August Blitz Build is an action packed, meaningful experience where we welcome 50 volunteers a day for four consecutive days in a row. At the end of the week you will see the full impact of what has been accomplished. The build site will be buzzing and it’s truly a one-of-a-kind experience! 

What will you be doing while volunteering?
Framing, joisting and building walls. Your safety is our priority! All volunteers are required to complete online safety training, attend the morning safety talk at the build site and wear PPE (we provide). Our Habitat Manitoba staff and volunteers will ensure that you are safe throughout the day. Lunch is included as well as snacks and water is available throughout the day! 

We invite you to come for all four days or if you can’t commit to a whole week you are welcome to come out for a day or two (Individual day spots open July 22) 

We can’t wait to host you this summer. 

2024 Women Build Blitz  

Thank you to all the volunteers and groups that came out to build during the Women Build Blitz. From May 27-31 crew leaders and over 120 volunteers rolled up their sleeves, and worked shoulder to shoulder to help build the 21st Women Build sponsored home for Janna and her daughter. 

The Rady Faculty of Health Sciences “Key to Health” Build 

The Rady Faculty of Health Sciences has partnered with Habitat Manitoba on their 5th home sponsorship build. On June 5, 6, 7, 11, 14, we welcomed 43 volunteers from the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. “Key to Health” was the theme of the build. Thank you to the following groups: College of Dentistry, Rehab Sciences, College of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and the College of Nursing. The Rady Faculty of Health Sciences offers a broad range of undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate educational programs in the health professions and basic medical sciences to more than 3,100 students each year.   

Habitat Manitoba receives $50,000 from the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk  

Habitat Manitoba is grateful to once again receive $50,000 from the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk. The Sisters have been devoted supporters of Habitat Manitoba for many years and to date have donated in excess of $1,175,000.  

Founded in Belgium in 1818 by Father John Lambertz, the Ursuline Sisters dedicate their lives to unity in diversity while working towards hope and confidence in the world today, and believe strongly in the empowerment of all people to have a dignified life in society. 

Local Grade 5 and 6 students each win $10,000 grant for Habitat for Humanity Manitoba 

Habitat for Humanity Canada announced the winners of Meaning of Home, a national writing contest where children from across Canada share heartwarming poems and stories about what home means to them. 

Grade 5 student Emily J. from Winnipeg won a $10,000 grant for Habitat for Humanity Manitoba for her entry “Home”. 

She joins Grade 6 student Winter W, also from Winnipeg, who wins a $10,000 grant for Habitat Manitoba for her entry “What home means to me”. 

Habitat for Humanity Manitoba had a record-breaking number of entries totaling 2834 submissions across the province, surpassing last year’s 2710 entries!  Everyone who entered earns a $10 donation to their local Habitat for Humanity with their submission. That means $28,340 was raised locally and it will be used towards the build of a new home for a low-income, working Habitat partner family. 

Check out the local media support for Emily and Winter’s achievements here.  

Habitat Manitoba hires new Chapter Manager 

We are pleased to welcome Christina Falk! Christina joins our staff in the newly created role as the Manager, Chapter Support. Christina comes with a deep knowledge of Chapter operations as she has served a variety of roles as a volunteer with the Winkler-Morden Chapter since 2018.

Habitat for Humanity Manitoba Chapters embody the spirit of what Habitat is all about. With the exception of the Brandon Chapter, they are 100% run by volunteers. Their job is to represent and carry out the mission of Habitat for Humanity Manitoba across the province and in Kenora, Ontario. Since 1998, Chapters have built 81 homes.

Her role is to act as a direct resource for the Chapters, as well as to coordinate the various supports that Habitat’s Winnipeg office staff can provide. In particular, she works closely with Chapter Chairpersons and the steering committees so that they can succeed in serving their local communities with safe and affordable housing.

Another important aspect of Christina’s work is the overall health of the Chapter network. This involves assisting Chapters with their succession planning and volunteer recruitment. It also means keeping an eye out for opportunities to start a Chapter in a new community.

Christina shares how she got involved with our organization and why she wanted to join the Habitat Manitoba team:

“About 6 years ago, my husband and I were part of establishing a new Chapter in  
Winkler-Morden. We saw the many struggles with housing issues in our community and felt that Habitat offered a community-based solution that would work towards dealing with this issue.  Over these years of volunteering with the Winkler-Morden Chapter, I have come to appreciate so many aspects of the Habitat model – it brings community together, it offers a real solution, not just a band-aid fix and it shows how everyone has value and can contribute to their community. My favourite part is that the mortgage payments paid by our Habitat Partner families go towards building the next home – which turns our homeowners into active participants in helping other families. I was excited for the opportunity to work with Habitat Manitoba because I have seen how this model works and have witnessed first-hand the difference it makes in the lives of families. I believe in the work of all the Chapters around our province and consider it a privilege to be able to walk along-side them in their work!” 

Habitat’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Through the work of our Chapters and people like Christina, we can continue to hope for this kind of future.

Critical Repair Program Update

The Critical Repair Program for Seniors aims to keep low-income seniors living at home for longer, contributing positively to their mental health and community well-being. Based on data from Statistics Canada, we estimate that as many as 80,000 low-income seniors are living in their homes in Manitoba.

In the past nine months, using the funds provided by Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care, Habitat Manitoba has completed 10 repairs and have several more underway. Our grant from Manitoba Health was for one year and will come to an end this month and they have advised us that they will not be providing any further funding and we are in need of help to keep the program alive.

Habitat Manitoba aims to acquire additional funding through the sponsorships, individual donations and continues to work on access government funding so we can maintain the program and be inclusive of all who are eligible for critical repairs in order to maintain their independence and keep their home.

The repair projects we have completed have demonstrated the benefits and return on investment of providing critical repairs to low-income seniors. These benefits include:

• Keeping low-income seniors in their homes rather than in long term care or transitional/

emergency social housing

• Benefitting the mental health of low-income seniors and their communities by increasing

mobility within and outside the home

• Improving the housing stock through repairs and creating more accessible housing
• Reducing costs and demands on the health care system, both acute and long term care

By assisting low-income homeowners resolve health and safety deficiencies or accessibility modifications they cannot afford to take on, Habitat Manitoba supports families and seniors to remain comfortably in their home with pride and dignity.

If you would like to help a homeowner live safely in their home for longer, please donate today.