Every little bit helps...

Homegrown Homes has been providing affordable housing in Peterborough since 1997. Our award-winning, non-profit organization has received civic, provincial, national and international recognition for creating innovative solutions to the affordable housing crisis in Peterborough. Our ability to sustain our operating costs without any form of government subsidy is largely due to donors such as yourself. We would therefore like to thank you for helping us accomplish our goals this past year and share with you our...

Wish List - as of January 2013

As landlords, Homegrown Homes takes pride in providing our tenants with well-maintained affordable housing. As homeowners, we also know that no matter how carefully we budget for expected repairs and maintenance, the unexpected almost always finds a way to put the best of plans asunder...

With that thought in mind, here is our Wish List of urgent repairs and services in order of priority and the cost to get it all done. A TAX RECEIPT IS ISSUED FOR ALL DONATIONS AND YOU WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED HERE ON OUR WEBSITE.

Extensive repairs and rebuilding of accessible washroom, including new flooring, special needs ramps, new drywall, tiling, plumbing and painting at our Edinburgh Street Project - Approx. $20,000 needed.

Eaves trough repair, replacement and special screening at our Parkhill Road property - $1,500 (due to two-storey high duplex)

Repair of concrete sidewalk to accessible unit due to safety issues for two disabled seniors - $900

Cost of annual snow removal at Wolfe Street. Our tenant is in a wheelchair and both the wheelchair ramp, the long driveway and the parking spot used for the wheelchair van turn-around must be clear each time (ramp is hand shoveled). $670

ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE TOWARD OFFSETTING THESE COSTS WILL BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED AS WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE FOR SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Please note that WE HAVE MOVED!

Please make cheques payable to:

Homegrown Homes, 159 King Street, Suite 105, Peterborough, ON K9J 2R8

Phone: 705.748.4534 - Fax: 705.745.4537

Homegrown Homes Administration

Much has been accomplished: But much more needs to be done...

Homegrown Homes now has 27 units of affordable housing, over 100 partnerships, 50 volunteers and hundreds of supporters throughout the community. Homegrown Homes was invited to present our model to affordable housing organizations in New Brunswick to help them address the affordable housing crisis as a non-profit, grassroots organization. Homegrown Homes was a finalist in the very prestigious 2010 World Habitat Award competition, finishing in the top four of 226 submissions from all over the world! This is quite an accomplishment!

Much has been accomplished, but much more remains to be done. With the continued generous support of concerned citizens, Homegrown Homes looks forward to continuing its good work in our community.

Other Homegrown Homes' Awards...

2002 Mayor's Award for the City of Peterborough Community Betterment 2003 Ontario Trillium Foundation Award for Human and Social Services 2008 CMHC National Award for Best Practices in Affordable Housing

HOW YOU CAN HELP WELL-DESERVING, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY

Every citizen in our community deserves to have a safe, affordable place to live. There are currently 1,501 families on the Social Housing Waiting List for affordable housing in Peterborough. Therefore, to address the existing need, 240 affordable housing units need to be provided each year for the next 5 years!

WHY WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

Homegrown Homes does not receive any operating subsidy from any level of government. Therefore, we depend on our fundraisers and annual campaign letter for our sustainability, to ensure that we can continue to keep our rents at least 15 percent lower than commercial market rents!

"Municipal governments lack the fiscal capacity to respond effectively to the issues of homelessness and housing affordability." Housing is Fundamental, September, 2010

SUCCESS STORY FROM HOMEGROWN HOMES' TENANTS

The quality of life for all of our tenants has improved significantly because they now have a safe, affordable place to live. Some of our tenants are so appreciative that they go out of their way to help their neighbours by shovelling snow, cutting lawns and generally being helpful to others whenever they can. This is just one of our many success stories to date on how affordable housing can change a person's life for the better. These tenants have even been given honourable mention in our local newspaper for discreetly helping so many people in their neighbourhood.

THE FACTS IN 2013

In Peterborough, half of our renter households currently do not have affordable rents.

25 percent of Peterborough tenants pay more than 50 percent of their income on housing.

37.2 percent of Peterborough residents live below the poverty line.

52.8 percent of renter households in Peterborough cannot afford a one-bedroom apartment.

$13.50 per hour is needed to rent a 1 bedroom apartment in Peterborough.

1,501 families are currently on a waiting list for affordable housing in Peterborough.

3,671 people sought affordable housing from only 594 listings in Peterborough in 2008.

Peterborough has one of the highest waiting lists for affordable housing in Ontario.

1 in 5 people in Peterborough are hard-working, minimum-wage earners living below the poverty line.

"Canadian census data reveals that housing affordability has actually worsened in the last 15 years."

Sponsorship and Recognition Opportunities

As a not-for-profit, charitable organization, Homegrown Homes receives no direct federal, provincial or municipal funding, and we are not affiliated with the United Way. This is why support from the community is so important to us, to help provide much-needed housing for deserving individuals and families in Peterborough and surrounding areas. Many, in desperate need of adequate housing, are families with children. You can become a valuable partner with Homegrown Homes.

Homegrown Homes is constantly trying to create innovative ways to provide safe affordable housing for over 1,500 low-income families in Peterborough. Homegrown Homes needs approximately $20,000 per year over and above our current annual donations to be able to provide one more affordable home each and every year for a well-deserving low-income family in Peterborough and keep our rents 20% lower than the market rate. We need your help to do this! Please consider becoming an annual donor to Homegrown Homes.

You can make a donation any time by Visa or Mastercard by calling HGH at 705-748-4534, or email us by clicking here. Make cheques payable to Homegrown Homes, 159 King Street, Suite 105, Peterborough, ON K9J 2R8

The following recognition opportunities are available to all donors...

Homegrown Homes Sustainability Fund

Gold Sponsorship Opportunity - $5,000 to $10,000

Your organization's name and official logo will be prominently displayed as a 'Gold Donor' on our planned Donor Wall (renewable annually)
Your organization will be recognized with a Gold Sponsorship Award from Homegrown Homes, suitably mounted for display in your office or workplace
Your organization's name will be highlighted in the Homegrown Homes website.
Your organization's name will be added to the list of Supporters for Homegrown Homes
At your option, Homegrown Homes will extend an invitation to local media to attend a cheque presentation

Silver Sponsorship Opportunity - $2,500 to $4,999

Your organization's name will be prominently displayed as a 'Silver Donor' on our planned Homegrown Homes Donor Wall (renewable annually)
Your organization will be recognized with a Silver Sponsorship Award from Homegrown Homes, suitably mounted for display in your office or workplace.
Your organization's name will be listed in the Homegrown Homes' website.
Your organization's name will be added to Homegrown Homes' list of Supporters.

Bronze Sponsorship Opportunity - $500 to $2,499

Your organization's name will be prominently displayed as a "Bronze Donor" on Homegrown Homes' planned Donor Wall (renewable annually).
Your organization's name will be listed in the Homegrown Homes' website.
Your organization's name will be added to Homegrown Homes' list of Supporters.

Homegrown Homes - Sponsorship for projects

The Need...

"Right now, 1,500 Peterborough residents are waiting for an affordable place to live - struggling to make ends meet, often sacrificing food on the table or clothes for their kids, just for a roof over their heads." Peterborough This Week

The Facts

Currently the wait time for CMHA supportive housing is 36 months; for other supportive housing, 5 years. Incredibly, affordable housing wait times for our region are the longest in the province, at 15 years
A minimum hourly wage of $10.85 is required to rent a bachelor apartment in Peterborough
90% of homes constructed since 2003 are single-detached at a cost of $205,000 and higher
There is a growing demand for housing dedicated to seniors. By 2026, 25% of all persons in the Greater Peterborough Area (GPA) will be over age 65
There is currently no permanent emergency shelter for two-parent, and father-led families in Peterborough