It’s an interesting time for someone new to take on the reins of this organization, and not just because of the housing crisis. This is the 25th birthday of Habitat for Humanity in Guelph and Wellington, so it’s a time of celebration, along with a time of tremendous challenge. In the overwhelming crunch of the crisis, how does the brand name in affordable housing celebrate its silver anniversary?

You can’t say that when Habitat for Humanity became an officially registered charity in 2001 that Guelph didn’t have any housing issues but that started changing in the last 25 years, slowly at first and then super accelerated though the pandemic and the immediate aftermath of it. With not just a lack of housing, but a lack of affordable and deeply affordable housing, the community was left scrambling, and that’s put a lot of pressure on established non-profits, like Habitat for Humanity.

Habitat has been busy for these last few years of the housing crisis with a stacked townhome development on Guelph’s eastside on Cityview Drive, a 32-unit project called Garafraxa Village in Fergus and next a new 30-home community on Speedvale Avenue East. At this pivotal moment, Habitat now has a new CEO, and as you’ll hear, she brings with her the experience of a business person and someone who’s been a part of the fabric of Habitat as its been navigating these difficult times. So what comes next for the new CEO?

On this episode, we’re joined by that new CEO, Sarah Spry, who will discuss her background and experience, how Habitat works and how they’ve been impacted by the housing crisis and the growing need. She will then talk about how the challenges of building non-profit housing are not that different from the for-profit ones, why the Habitat model works, and her vision for the organization. Also, you will learn how you can get involved, and what the next 25 years of Habitat will look like.

So let’s celebrate affordable housing builders on this week’s Guelph Politicast!

You can learn more about Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington, and all the ways you can take part in their efforts at their website, and you can follow them on Facebook and Instagram. You can also visit the two ReStore locations in the region, the one in Guelph is in the north end on Dawson Road and the other is in Fergus on Tower Street South.

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Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity GW/Facebook.