6 new homes from Habitat for Humanity

I was privileged last Sunday to attend the dedication ceremony and handover of the keys to 6 families who were taking possession of their new homes built by  Habitat for Humanity. 

My Grandson and I worked on this project in the spring.  It was an amazing experience for him, not only the volunteering part, but learning how to install drywall and build decks.
Check out the following TREB release.

TREB Habitat Sponsor Home Dedication Ceremony
June 19, 2012 -- On behalf of all Greater Toronto REALTORS®, President-Elect Ann Hannah presented the Khemraj family with the keys to their new TREB-sponsored Habitat for Humanity home on June 17.

The presentation took place at the site of six newly constructed townhouses at Macey Avenue and St. Dunstan in Toronto. Habitat for Humanity Chief Executive Officer Neil Hetherington welcomed sponsors, local dignitaries from all levels of government, and the six families who received the keys to their new homes.


Lillwatie Khemraj immigrated to Canada from Guyana in 1982 in search of a better life. Her husband Tajipaul (Clement) Khemraj followed in 1989, with a goal of furthering his education. He worked to earn a degree in Business Administration and thereafter completed a Masters degree.


The couple and their three sons, age 22, 18 and 16, were living in a two-bedroom apartment in Scarborough in order to be close to Clement’s work, when they applied for a Habitat for Humanity home in an effort to give their sons a more positive environment.

Upon being approved, they completed the required 500 sweat equity hours in just five weeks, working seven days a week.

Their new home has been custom-designed to accommodate the needs of their eldest son, who was born with cerebral palsy.

The family is very grateful for the hand-up and Clement, who wants to be able to help others in turn, hopes to establish an e-commerce, non-profit organization to assist the disabled and the elderly.
TREB’s Habitat for Humanity sponsorship was made possible as a result of Members’ support of the REALTORS Care Foundation. At a General Meeting, held in conjunction with TREB’s annual REALTOR® QUEST conference in May, Members voted in favour of continuing, for the fifth consecutive year, participation in the REALTORS Care Foundation’s Every REALTOR® campaign. This authorizes TREB to make a contribution of $1 per Member per month for a year to the Foundation in support of shelter-related charities.

In addition to their contribution of 500 volunteer hours to Habitat for Humanity, sponsor families are required to repay a zero-down payment, interest free mortgage over an average of 25 years.
Habitat for Humanity Toronto has constructed more than 225 simple, decent and affordable homes with partner families throughout the city, and has set a goal to build 50 new homes each year by 2015.

The Khemraj’s home marked TREB’s fifth Habitat for Humanity title sponsorship in recent years.