Crews hammer away as Habitat for Humanity 'blitz build' gets underway in Winnipeg
Organization to build 150 homes nationwide July 9-14 in honour of Canada 150
Volunteers are busy at work Monday as Habitat for Humanity begins its "blitz build," an ambitious effort to construct 25 homes in Manitoba over the next week.
The organization plans to build 150 homes nationwide from July 9-14 — including 21 homes in Winnipeg, two in Brandon and two in Portage la Prairie — in commemoration of Canada 150.
"It's amazing," said Alanna Tippmann. She and her three young daughters are one of the families receiving homes from the build.
"This is the start of a new chapter where we can have security, we have just — we can breathe and we can grow, and that's huge."
The single mother said owning a home was never an option for her before she got the call about a year ago that her application to Habitat for Humanity had been approved.
She's already pitched in on other builds throughout the city and was happy to meet the volunteers helping out on her own home.
"They've made me cry already, once," she said. "It's amazing how people can just come out here and do this, just because they want to."
It will be the second time the Carters have travelled to Winnipeg for a build.
"It's a great honour," said Habitat for Humanity CEO Sandy Hopkins. "Very unusual for them to return somewhere, and so for them to be in our city twice is a blessing for us."
'They are not there for photo ops'
Hopkins said Carter wanted to come to Winnipeg because of Habitat for Humanity's commitment to provide 40 per cent of the homes in Manitoba to Indigenous people.
"That was very intriguing to the Carters, so they committed to come back to Canada to be part of the national celebration and the recognition of the need for housing for Indigenous families," Hopkins said.
"They work very hard when they are on the site. They are not there for photo ops. It's remarkable, the commitment and energy of that couple."
About 500 volunteers were present Monday at the Habitat for Humanity build site in St. James. The neighbourhood will remain the site of 16 homes, while five will be taken to foundations in other parts of Winnipeg.
Families who are approved to get Habitat for Humanity homes agree to put in 500 hours of construction labour and then buy homes with zero per cent mortgages.
On Monday, longtime host of HGTV's Income Property Scott McGillivray was on-site to lend a hand in the build.
"It's hot today. I won't lie, we're all sweating. But if you go along you'll meet the families that are there, they're working hard and they're passionate, and this is their dream come true," he said.
He said he was happy to be a part of the action, too.
"My whole thought is that in Canada, if you're willing to work hard, you deserve a safe place to live," he said.
"And if you're willing to work even harder, you should own a home and have the privilege of being in the real estate game, really, as a homeowner, as a primary resident and even for your family's future."
