#whd2014

We were very lucky to hear from a number of public figures who have always supported Options for Homes and Home Ownership Alternatives at our 20th Anniversary World Habitat Day event on Monday, October 6.  Above are just a few of the amazing comments that were made and calls to action that were issued by our incredible allies. 

On October 6, 2014 Options for Homes and HOA celebrated 20 years of creating cost-effective home ownership opportunities to individuals in the GTA, across Ontario and as far away as Limbe, Cameroon. 

To mark this milestone Options and HOA hosted a World Habitat Day Celebration at the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse in Toronto.

The event was an amazing opportunity for Options for Homes and Home Ownership Alternatives staff and homeowners to celebrate with Options and HOA affiliates and representatives from financial partners, builders and development consultants.

Guests heard from Jens Lohmueller of HOA, Ange Valentini who spoke on behalf of Member of Parliament Adam Vaughan, former mayor of Toronto and current Senator Art Eggleton, Brian Iler, a lawyer who has been working with Options since the beginning and Options COO Pat Munroe.  Each speaker touched on their experience with Options and HOA and the current state of cost effective housing in the GTA. 

Guests also heard Gloria Ramirez's very personal and touching story about her journey to becoming a homeowner with Options and HOA.

                                                                                *Our amazing speakers

The purpose of World Habitat Day is to reflect on the state of our cities and towns and the basic human right to adequate shelter.  It aims to remind the world that we are responsible for the habitat of future generations.  In light of this Mike Labbé, Options Founder and CEO spoke about Options International, more specifically the work being done in Africa. 

He said: 

“Housing is the single most effective economic development opportunity that any developing country has; but it’s not the housing that matters, it’s the jobs that it can create.  The need, the oppourtunity and the chance to make a difference on that continent [Africa] are incredible and Options will be there for as long as it takes.”

Check out some photos from the celebration:

        *The cake that has become an Options tradition during our 20th year

                                             *Options International team Tana and Pauline

                                                                                          *Jens Lohmueller

                                                                                 *The party in full swing

                                                                                                 *Mike Labbé

                                                                *Mike explaining Options for Cars

                                            *Ene Underwood, Celia Chandler, Pat Munroe

Yesterday was United Nations World Habitat Day.  Options for Homes and Home Ownership Alternatives took the opportunity to celebrate 20 years of cost-effective home ownership in Toronto, and around the world, with two events. 

The first was a flag raising at Toronto City Hall where Options and HOA received a proclamation from the city.  We were lucky to hear from Options CEO Mike Labbé, City of Toronto Affordable Housing Office Manager Erik Hunter and Jill Mulholland, a homeowner at our Cranbrooke Village development.  

City Councillors, Kristyn Wong-Tam and Peter Leon and well as Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area CEO Ene Underwood were on hand to lend their support at the World Habitat Day flag raising celebrating Options and HOA's 20th Anniversary. 

Check out some great photos from the event:

*The beautiful Options for Homes/Home Ownership Alternatives flag!

*Mike Labbé, Kristyn Wong-Tam, Erik Hunter, Jens Lohmueller  and Peter Leon

*The flag flying

*Mike Labbé celebrating the Options HOA 20th Anniversary World Habitat Day Flag Raising

*The Options and HOA team!

*The proclamation Options and HOA received from the City at the flag raising. 

Thank you to everyone who came out to support Options and HOA!

                  World Habitat Day takes place on the fist Monday of October all over the world.  It was officially designated by the United Nations in 1985 and first celebrated in 1986.  

The purpose of World Habitat Day is to reflect on the state of our cities and towns and the basic human right to adequate shelter.  It aims to remind the world that we are responsible for the habitat of future generations.

This year the theme of UN World Habitat Day is "Voices from Slums". Learn more about this years theme and campaign here.

World Habitat Day is near and dear to Options and this year marks the third annual Options for Homes/Home Ownership Alternatives World Habitat Day Celebration Event!

For the past 20 years Options for Homes has been dedicated to providing quality homes in great communities at the best possible price.  Options strives to bring home ownership within reach for as many individuals and families as possible. 

Since 1994, Options and its affiliated organizations across Canada and around the world have provided over 6,500 households with home ownership oppourtunities.  

                                               *Just a few Options for Homes homeowners

Options believes that home ownership should be available to everyone. Ownership makes households financially stronger which in turn creates stronger cities, not only for now but for the future.  

Options for Homes celebrates World Habitat Day every year because we truly believe that every person in the world should have access to adequate and affordable shelter which in turn will create strong and self-sufficient communities around the world. 

This year Options will be celebrating not only World Habitat Day but our 20th Anniversary with a Flag Raising event at City Hall in Toronto this morning and a celebration this evening.  Both featuring speeches from people who have seen Options grow and develop over the past 20 years and from homeowners whose lives have been changed since joining the Options Family!

On World Humanitarian Day, we launched our first Google Hangout, speaking from humanitarians around the globe what it's like to be a humanitarian today and why they are driven to help.