After spending more than a year pursuing an accounting diploma, college student Noah felt his career path wasn’t the right fit. He wanted to work with his hands, so while he figured out exactly what that meant, he started volunteering.
“I found out about Habitat for Humanity through my grandparents, and it was the first place I applied,” said Noah, whose last name is being left out for privacy reasons.
Noah joined Habitat for Humanity’s Every Youth Initiative, a program that engages young volunteers between the ages of 16-29 and teaches them different trades that can lead to in-demand careers in the construction industry. Youth often repair community housing buildings or construct homes that allow families to build stability through affordable home ownership.
Noah working to a repair a building for Habitat for Humanity in the Windsor-Essex area.
According to Employment and Social Development Canada, approximately 700,000 skilled trade workers are expected to retire by 2028 potentially adding extra pressure to Canada’s housing supply gap. The Every Youth Initiative, launched in 2017 by Habitat for Humanity Canada, is helping bolster the ranks of Canada’s skilled trades workers. So far, nearly 6,000 people have participated in the initiative.
“This program has changed the trajectory for so many youth in a very tangible way in terms of better outcomes in education and employment,” said April Gibson, Director, Partner Services and Stewardship at Habitat for Humanity. “It builds self-worth and self-confidence and a sense of future possibilities.”
To help Habitat for Humanity continue training youth and constructing affordable homes, Scotiabank has renewed its support of the Every Youth Initiative program. The $900,000 donation will roll out over the course of three years through ScotiaRISE — Scotiabank’s 10-year, $500 million community investment initiative aimed at strengthening economic resilience among disadvantaged groups.
Source: Habitat for Humanity
Scotiabank has also deepened its support with Habitat for Humanity Canada by donating office space at one of the Bank’s downtown Toronto locations, enabling it to better manage administrative expenses and allocate more money toward its affordable housing mandate. The office space will be home to the charity until 2030.
“We're deeply grateful to Scotiabank for its visionary support," said Pedro Barata, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. “Funds spent on leasing an office can now be redirected towards our core vision, growing our impact and extending our reach to more families across Canada in need of safe and affordable housing.”
Scotiabank’s Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer Meigan Terry says having Habitat for Humanity Canada at the bank’s offices is a great fit.
“Through ScotiaRISE and the interrelationships throughout the bank, we are proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity in more innovative ways to advance shared goals. This is such a unique, multi-layered partnership that helps drive an important ambition forward, to improve access to affordable housing,” she said. “Together, we can help build strong, vibrant communities and help youth, including at risk youth, skill up for gainful employment in housing construction and contributing to relevant, and impactful community programs in Canada and globally.”
The longtime partnership between Scotiabank and Habitat for Humanity has also expanded internationally. Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago recently announced a comprehensive project designed to build social cohesion and climate resiliency in Tobago communities. This two-year initiative with Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago will be supporting over 4,000 people through the implementation of climate-smart agriculture strategies such as community greenhouse and rainwater harvesting, along with community empowerment training programs to improve housing resilience to withstand climate-related disasters.
Noah with other Habitat for Humanity volunteers.
Jennifer Massiah, the national director for Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago, says the organization is proud to partner with Scotiabank on a project that represents the heart of Habitat’s transformational development for communities.
“Data collection, vulnerability mapping and assessments, mitigation, and capacity-building interventions allow us to add our contributions to climate adaptation,” said Massiah.
Globally, Habitat for Humanity operates in more than 70 countries. Across Canada, it has 45 local Habitat organizations operating in every province and territory.
For Noah, the experience in the Every Youth Initiative was transformative. He learned everything from drywalling to painting and installing fencing and siding.
"It was a very good experience,” said Noah. “Contributing to have an impact on someone's life, it felt like some kind of purpose.”
After completing his placement, he went on to do a one-year carpentry course at St. Clair College and is now working as a carpentry apprentice fulltime.
