If any of you are friends with me on Facebook, you will have no doubt seen many of my posts (rants) and links in regards to the housing situation in Vancouver. When it comes to affordable housing in this city, there is a distinct problem with understanding what and who needs affordable and lets not forget decent housing to live in. There is a gray area of income that does not qualify for subsidies or aid, yet struggles with the costs of housing and exist pay cheque to pay cheque and little understanding comes from the government or organizations like the Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation that USED to be in the business of housing lower-income families but feels now that market rents are more suitable.
Therefore, I almost wish that we did indeed qualify for the likes of amazing organizations like Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver is a non-profit housing organization that mobilizes volunteers and community partners to provide affordable housing and promote home ownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty. One hundred percent of all administrative and fundraising costs are paid for by the operation of nine ReStores that sell new and gently used donated building and household products.
I have been a happy P&G Mom for over a year now, and have thoroughly enjoyed trying out many of their products as well as offering the odd giveaway to you, my dear supporters. I teamed up with them because we already use so many of the brands that fall under their umbrella and genuinely LIKE many of the products. This, I feel, makes me an honest ambassador for their brand.
Needless to say I was very interested to hear that P&G had partnered with Habitat for Humanity to invest in healthy, happy homes across Canada. This three-year partnership, which totals $900,000, will see P&G support Habitat’s family home builds across the 
county, on behalf of its Household Needs brands including Tide, Swiffer and Mr. Clean. This year, the investment will provide assistance in Women Build projects in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal . P&G will also offer cleaning kits to Habitat for Humanity affiliates to help ready the newly built homes for move-in once construction is complete, and will provide welcome baskets packed full of household products to each family moving into their new Habitat home.
Approximately 350 new builds are expected across Canada in 2014.
And what women can build things and run households, businesses and families all at the same time? MOMS!
Jill Amery of UrbanMommies and I have been asked to not only represent P&G for the Women Build project here in Richmond this summer, but to put the call out to you, our families and friends to join us in showing what the power of mom can do when it comes to building houses!
Both Jill and I are very excited about this project and will share more details as they come. This Women Build event will be held the week of September 15 and 22 at 8180 Ash Street, Richmond BC. You can learn a bit more about the project here. You can also call 604-681-5618 and follow them on Twitter @HabitatVan #womenbuild, as well as watching our feed for details.
P&G and Habitat are looking for us moms and women of the city to “unleash their inner super hero” and help combat substandard housing in their community.
No tools or construction experience needed!
Habitat’s talented volunteer Crew Leaders will lead the group as they build homes and hope and 100% of all funds raised go directly to building homes.
Have a think about it. There is plenty of time. But Jill and I would love to show the rest of Canada how great the volunteers are in BC. It is just one day of fun, cameraderie and learning how to build a house for a great cause!
Excellent, excellent, excellent! You have my full support and any time I can spare for this project!!