A Place to Call Home
We live in a prosperous community, yet many people struggle to find affordable housing. Rents have sky-rocketed. Good housing is out of reach for many. Some 5000 households are on the waiting list for affordable housing in the Region of Waterloo.
Carl Zehr, longtime mayor of Kitchener, oversaw the diversification of the region’s economy, leading to significant growth. He recognizes that unaffordable rental housing may be an unintended consequence of this positive community development.
“Housing is a human right, a necessity in stabilizing an individual’s or family’s life. We, as a society, have a responsibility to make sure that appropriate housing is available to everyone.”
Carl Zehr,
Capital Campaign Chair
The Vision: Bridgeport at Lancaster
Three strong and committed partners have come together to address the challenge of affordable housing: MennoHomes, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and Parents for Community Living (PCL). Our new project, divided into two phases, will create more than 80 affordable housing units.
Under MennoHomes’ oversight, Phase 1 will see the construction of a five-story building with 48 living units, worship space for St. Paul’s, a community room and kitchen for PCL, and a mix of shared and dedicated meeting space for the three partners and community groups. The location at the intersection of Bridgeport and Lancaster, in northeast Kitchener, provides easy access to many facilities, and has two bus routes at the door.
To make this vision a reality, the campaign for the first phase will raise $5 million.
Learn more
The Capital Campaign
The MennoHomes business model is simple and highly effective. For each project, construction costs are covered by a combination of government grants, private donations and a mortgage.
The $5 million capital campaign will ensure the rent received from tenants is sufficient to pay the ongoing mortgage and operating costs.
Your gift can be transformative. You will be helping many in our community to experience the dignity and stability that come from having a solid, safe and comfortable home.
Donate now
CRA Charity #86304 7015 RR0001
Thanks to MennoHomes I live in a beautiful spacious place with my son. I don’t need to worry about my finances when it comes to paying my rent.”
-Steph, MennoHomes tenant
How You Can Help
Pause for a moment and think about what your home means to you.
Family. Comfort. Community. Privacy. Peace. Warmth. Self-respect.
Now think about what it must be like to live in substandard housing. To wonder if you’ll be able to make rent and pay utilities. To run short of grocery money by the end of the month. To move frequently. To worry about the effect of your housing on your child’s health. To wonder what will happen to your adult child with disabilities when you can no longer provide care. To teeter on the crisis of homelessness.
Your gift can be transformative. It will make a real and measurable difference in people’s lives. Through it, you will reach out to many in our community who need affordable housing. Among them are seniors, adults with intellectual and other disabilities, people living with mental health issues, and single mothers. You will be helping them experience the dignity that comes from having a solid, safe and comfortable home. You will be supporting their physical and mental health, helping them stay well, thrive and contribute.
You will be building a place to call home.
Questions?
We are here for you.
Feel free to reach out by calling 226-476-2535 or by email to home@mennohomes.com
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Dan Driedger
Executive Director
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Carl Zehr
Capital Campaign Chair