MennoHomes

a response to the need for affordable housing

 
Wellesley Semi Project Update

 

  • on July 3 an affordable housing announcement was made at Waterloo City Hall which included $480,000 of Federal-Provincial funding for our four units in Wellesley (two sets of semis), on Pond View Drive. Originally we had expected $80,000 per unit.  Imagine how thrilled we were to learn that we are receiving $120,000 per unit in Wellesley. Harold Albrecht, M.P., made the announcement related to MennoHomes' allocation.  He stepped outside his set speech to say how much confidence he had in the due diligence practiced by MennHomes.  He warmly praised the supportive component built into our housing model.  And he identified himself as a former Member of MennoHomes.
  • on August 14, we obtained our building permit from the Township of Woolwich.  Site work is to commence this week so that the foundations are in place before the Labour Day weekend.
  • on Friday and Saturday, September 4 and 5, we are expecting 55-60 volunteers from  Old Colony Mennonite Churches in Aylmer, Virgil and Crosshill.  The men are experienced construction workers. They hope to frame, roof and shingle both buildings (two sets of semis) in Wellesley in two days of barnraising!
  • women from the Old Colony Mennonite Church in Crosshill will provide snacks and lunches on the two days of the "barnraising" blitz.  Suppers will be provided by our sponsors for the weekend barnraising:  MAX Canada, Mennonite Foundation of Canada and Mennonite Savings and Credit union.
  • some of the Friday night billeting will be provided by families from the Old Colony Mennonite Church in Crosshill.  We are looking for additional billets to cover all the beds needed on Friday night, September 4.  Please help promote the call for billets in your churches. If you are able to help, please contact me at my email address above or by phone:  519-578-5546.
  • we are still searching for trades to either donate their labour, and/or discount their materials and supplies to cover:  wallboarding, plumbing, heating, flooring and stairs. We would be delighted to have experienced help with wallboarding.  If you are able to help, or can recommend someone, please contact Murray Leis, Project Manager at:  519-656-3083 or Dave Bechtel:  519-896-6255.
  • Kiitchener Steel donated steel beams for the four basements.  
  • We are renting a port-o-potty for the duration of the construction period.  The provider of the service, upon learning of the upcoming barnraising blitz, decided to donate the use of additional ones for those two days.
  • we need to raise $66,000 per unit to meet our equity contribution requirement.  The equity contribution requirement is $66,000 x 8 = $528,000.  After allowing for funds already in hand, we have a fundraising goal of $400,000.  We will be allowed to count as part of our equity contribution the value of donated labour and meaningful discounts on supplies and materials.
  • on the fundraising theme, we are happy to announce that Menno Valley Sound will do a fundraising concert in The Healing Barn on Saturday, October 24 at 7:00pm.  There is seating for up to 300 guests in the barn located at 1433 Berletts Road, between Wilmot Line and Notre Dame.  There will be a free will offering.
  • also, on the fundraising theme, planning is in progress for a bike-a-thon in October to raise a minimum of $66,000, the equity contribution needed to cover one unit.  We will be looking for a minimum of 10 riders, each with a minimum of $6,600 in pledges.  The course will be 66 kms.  Yours truly hopes to be one of the riders and I am looking forward to having 9 more riders identified.  If you are not riding yourself, I will be happy to receive your pledge as the incentive I need to go the distance.
  • we continue to look for land or buildings in Woolwich Township on which to provide 4 more housing units.  If you know of either prospect, please let me know.  We do have an allocation of a total of eight units of which four, as reported above, are being built in Wellesley.


After reading this update, please feel free to contact me with your feedback and inputs.

Regards,

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , president
MennoHomes Inc
519-578-5546