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Sam Mroueh has long dreamt of owning a home where his two autistic children can safely live and play.
This year, that dream will come true thanks to Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex.
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On Saturday, the organization broke ground on its 84th and 85th homes side-by-side in Windsor’s Sandwich Town.
“It’s been a real struggle,” said Mroueh, a single father. Daughter Dunya, age 12, and son Kareem, 8, watched their dad slide a shovel into the soil where their new home will soon stand.
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“Where we’re living now, they’re pretty much isolated,” Mroueh said. “It’s not safe, it smells bad, there’s rodents — it’s on a busy street with cars zooming. My kids don’t comprehend yes and no, so I have to keep locks on the door at all times.
“I’m very thankful. They finally get their own rooms, their own fenced-in backyard. It’s a dream come true.”
Joining Mroueh in breaking ground was his future neighbour, Adriana Arquette and her two children: Nina, age 10, and Gio, age six.
The single mother told the Star there is “no way” she could come up with a down payment on her own in the current housing market.
“The kindness and generosity from caring sponsors and donors, from the whole of Habitat for Humanity, will have a lasting effect, not only on our personal lives and in our home, but within this new community,” she said.
“It’s such a blessing. I feel more independent, and that I can provide a future for my children through having assets, through being able to put my money towards something that will have a future purpose.”
Saturday’s groundbreaking marks the beginning of a five-house build expected to take place in Sandwich Town over the next year. From 2019 until now, the organization has been building homes in Ford City.
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“We’ve been eyeing Sandwich Town for some time now, knowing that there’s a housing crisis and seeing that there’s opportunity in infill and in some of the houses that are ready for renewal and a refresh,” said Fiona Coughlin, executive director and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex. “We’re glad to get started here.
“We are inspired by the neighbours here and how much they give to making this community exciting and vibrant. We see the renewal happening and the passion that this neighbourhood has for the history that’s here. We want to be part of that.”
Families chosen to receive Habitat homes volunteer for 500 hours, either on the build site or at the Habitat Windsor-Essex ReStore. Once they move in, they have a geared-to-income mortgage, the payments from which fund future Habitat homes.
For every $1 that Habitat for Humanity invests in a community, Coughlin said, there is a $4 return in community benefits.
Instead of being built by Habitat Windsor-Essex staff and volunteers, the Sandwich Town homes will be built by BK Cornerstone. The company is also donating $20,000 to each build.
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Brent Klundert, the company’s vice president, said BK Cornerstone wants to be “embedded” in the community where it builds.
“What better way than to have this partnership with Habitat to help the community here — we will hopefully continue this relationship for years to come.”
Earlier this summer, Habitat Windsor-Essex launched Repair Revolution, a pilot program aimed at speeding up repairs in community housing in an era when costs and demand are rising, and labour shortages are keeping units in need of work empty. Funding from the Trillium Foundation allowed the organization to acquire a large van and stock it with tools required for the job.
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With BK Cornerstone constructing the Habitat homes in Sandwich, Coughlin said her organization will be able to work more on the repair program.
“It frees up our construction and skilled trades volunteers and staff to do repairs while BK Cornerstone does the build,” she said.
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“It’s a really important way to increase our capacity, to build through partnerships.
“We know that there are people doing all kinds of things to tackle the housing crisis. If each of us does whatever their greatest skill is to move the needle and we work together, we’re actually going to make a bigger impact than each of us doing things separately.”
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said Habitat for Humanity tells the story of a community coming together, from sponsors and fundraisers to those at BK Cornerstone offering their services, to families volunteering their time and the City of Windsor waiving development fees.
“Everyone on our council understands, and I think it’s fair to say everyone at the provincial level and federal understands the problem that we have right now with affordable and attainable housing. We try to do our part, and Habitat has been an excellent partner.”
Up until Christmas, every donation made to the Sandwich Town Habitat home builds will be matched by an anonymous donor.
In addition, the Do Good Divas are fundraising for Habitat Windsor-Essex with this year’s Handbags for Housing event. Tickets and more information are available at dogooddivas.com.
tcampbell@postmedia.com
twitter.com/wstarcampbell
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