Annual Report 2007

Annual Report 2007

Who We Are...
VISION: A world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. MISSION: To mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty. VALUES: HOUSING FOR ALL: We believe that access to safe, decent and affordable housing is a basic human right that should be available to all. HUMAN DIGNITY: We believe in the worth and dignity of every human being. We respect the people we serve and those that help us in this effort and recognize them as our greatest resource. PARTNERSHIP: We believe we can best achieve our mission through meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships with others. FAITH IN ACTION: We believe that faith is lived through action. Building on our Christian foundation, we serve and work with people of all faiths and beliefs in a spirit of justice and compassion. DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVENESS: We believe there is a role for everyone committed to our vision, mission and values and we seek to enrich our organization through diversity.

Annual Report 2007

Message from the Chair:

The past year has been a building year - building our affiliate and building the network of affiliates in BC - as much as building homes. Through the efforts of many committed people, we have an agreement with the Province of BC that has the government contributing $25,000 to each home BC Habitat affiliates build going forward. We also have a caucus of BC affiliates that lets us work together to make province-wide changes. I believe this is real progress at the provincial level. Habitat Greater Vancouver is going through its own growth as the Board of Directors reviews our structure and the way in which we approach getting more homes built and more families served. While this process takes time, the outcome looks to be a better functioning board and a more responsive affiliate; all of which bodes well for the future. Both ReStore operations are working to contribute to the building of hope through the building of homes. We continue to work on making the ReStores more productive for the future we are building. Most importantly, we will have four more families in homes by the summer of 2008 and five more homes underway by fall. That is good work by many people and we need to thank each other and all those who help make this happen. Next year will bring more challenges and more progress so we can strengthen the base being put in place now. Thank you all for what you are doing! Jim Lippert Chair

Annual Report 2007

Message from the CEO:

During 2007 there were monthly events and milestones that helped to increase the success of our affiliate: January - various volunteer groups helped to set up and stock the Vancouver ReStore in preparation for our opening day. February - the Habitat ReStore participated in a panel discussion at the 2nd National Social Enterprise Conference in Vancouver. March - we held the official opening of the Vancouver ReStore to a packed house, with media coverage from Global TV, 1130 News Radio, Renovations Home Improvement Magazine, Home Makeover and others. April - we were invited to address the Emily Carr College of Art/Forintek Innovative Relief Housing Expo, which showcased examples of international relief housing structures (using BC lumber). May - we partnered with BC Hydro to reach the Gold Standard Label in Energy Efficiency in our homes. June - James Richardson & Sons, Ltd sponsored a youth build week with students from BCIT. August - four more families moved into their new Phase 3 homes! September - Richmond Fire & Rescue and Cathay Pacific were on the build site to promote their Global Village trip to Thailand on Global TV and to help us get the roof sheathed on the Phase 4 houses; and Lewis Lukens, the US Consul, hosted a party at his home to recognize our major sponsors and to introduce Habitat to other leaders in the community. October - The Burnaby ReStore celebrated its 5th birthday with large crowds of customers. November - the sited hosted a Seeing is Believing Tour of business executives, which resulted in the donation of the roof for Phase 4. December - we celebrated our annual achievements and gave our build site crew a few well-deserved extra days off. Once again, it is only through the help and commitment of our volunteers, supporters and staff that we are able to work towards an affordable housing solution. Thank you to everyone for all your hard work in 2007. Anneke Rees, CEO

Annual Report 2007

Habitat ReStore:
In early 2007 we opened our second Habitat ReStore in Vancouver, where our offices are located. ReStore income allows us to cover our administrative costs and we are recognized as a leader in the area of social enterprise. Word of mouth is spreading that there are incredible deals to be found at both the Vancouver and Burnaby ReStores. From lighting to carpets, appliances to windows, the ReStore sells almost everything you need to remodel or renovate your home. We have seen an increase in the ReStore's success throughout the past year. Customers are feeling good about buying merchandise that would otherwise end up in the landfill. The success of the ReStore is due to our dedicated staff and volunteers who share a green philosophy and are strongly committed to making a difference.
Opening of the Vancouver ReStore: Tom Riessner - Director of ReStore Operations; Patrice Pratt - Chair of Vancity; Shell Busey - Home Improvement Celebrity; Jim Lippert - Chair of the Board; Anneke Rees - CEO

Annual Report 2007

The Issue:
The lack of affordable housing in the Greater Vancouver area is critical. It is one of the most expensive cities on the continent in which to buy a house. According to the Royal Bank of Canada, Metro Vancouver housing in the third quarter of 2007 became the most unaffordable in Canada. Housing costs "hit all-time highs in the Vancouver market and the broader British Columbia market. The average twostorey house in Metro Vancouver carried a $619,892 price tag, requiring 75 per cent of the region's median pre-tax household income of $60,000 to make the mortgage payments and pay taxes and other ownership costs. (The RBC index assumes a 25per-cent down payment and 25-year amortization.) The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has warned that a lack of affordable housing is becoming an economic threat to Canadian cities.

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Habitats Solution:
At Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver we believe that letting people take action in a practical and tangible way to build Habitat homes is powerful proof that everyone can contribute to solving the Lower Mainlands housing needs. Building community means not only constructing houses, but bringing together groups of people from all walks of life to share the work of building simple, decent affordable homes alongside the Habitat families as they give 500 hours of their own time to building their own home.

Annual Report 2007

Doing our Part - Energy Efficiency:

In May 2007, BC Hydro conducted an independent audit to test our Phase 3 homes for their level of energy efficiency. As a result of the audit, these homes were recognized as Power Smart GOLD by BC Hydro. (The Gold label means that our homes are airtight, well insulated, sufficiently ventilated and require little purchased energy - an advanced home.) The GOLD label is a further testament to our commitment to build safe, decent and affordable homes for our partner families. Once our families move into their homes, they can expect to save 30% on their electric heating bills as a result of this achievement. In addition, the homes were fitted with compact fluorescent lights which use 66% less energy and last 10 times longer, as well as Energy Star rated fridges and washers.

Everyone in British Columbia should be concerned with energy-efficiency and conservation goals. These houses go a long way to showing that its doable. Bob Elton, President and CEO, BC Hydro.

Annual Report 2007

Taking action!
It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home. Anonymous
In 2007 hundreds of individuals, 51 different corporate teams, and more than 24 non-profit, faith and other groups came out to help us. We thank each and every person who came out rain or shine to take part in building our homes.

Annual Report 2007

Our 2007 Sponsors:

We are very fortunate that each year, a number of high-profile companies take a lead role in committing to help fund a home and ultimately change the lives of a family forever. We are proud to partner with these companies who sponsored us in 2007:

$100,000+

James Richardson & Sons, Ltd

The Real Estate Foundation of BC

$50,000+ BC Hydro Ventana Construction Corporation

$20,000+
$10,000+

eBay Teekay Corporation

Anonymous Estate Donation Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of CanadaBC AT&T Genworth Financial Mortgage Co of Canada Great-West Life with Gateway Management Co Ltd and Omicron Investors Group TD Canada Trust
Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang; Ames Tile & Stone Ltd; Commonwealth Insurance; Tonko Realty Advisors Ltd; James Hardie (in kind); Standard Lumber (in kind)

$5000+

And special thanks to: CMHC for golf tournament proceeds, the Universal Gospel Choir for their benefit concert, Coast Capital Savings Credit Union for a capacity building grant, and to Human Resources & Social Development Canada - New Horizons Program and Vancity Community Foundation for ReStore grants.

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Annual Report 2007

Partnering with the Construction Industry:

In some cases, in addition to financial support, companies also contribute hundreds and sometimes thousands of employee hours towards the build. In 2007, one such company was Ventana Construction:

Weve had a few good years in the industry, and we wanted to give something back to the community. Working on the Habitat project was a new challenge for Ventanas skilled workers, as they were leading volunteers instead of trained colleagues. It was a different experience from their usual environment, but our employees and Habitats volunteers worked well together. If others in our industry were to donate to Habitat for Humanity and other worthy projects, imagine what we could accomplish. Maurice Creagh, Operations Manager, Ventana Construction Corporation

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Annual Report 2007

An Invitation:
When people share the same values, working together creates endless possibilities to change families and communities forever. As the need for affordable housing in our city continues to accelerate, creative solutions to meet those needs must also grow. We thank all those who have supported us in the past and trust they will continue working with us as we look to complete the Burnaby site and look for new opportunities in the Lower Mainland. We invite you to become a partner and help motivate and encourage the families that are still waiting to belong to the Habitat community of hope. Be inspired by the challenge of building homes and hope, one family at a time, one community at time.

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Annual Report 2007

Challenge Yourselves:
Besides making a donation, many corporations are encouraging their employees to volunteer and say that volunteering on-site as a group is a wonderful teambuilding experience. I thought it was an awesome experience! I would do it again for sure, in fact, I'd do it every month if we could.
What a success it was! We accomplished the work that they had set out for us in half the time expected, and were able to get those 2 basements dry-walled in no time flat! I think that we all learned a lot about each other yesterday, and we definitely had fun and worked hard!

Thanks to the following companies for their involvement in 2007:

Air Canada Jazz, BC Housing Management Commission, BC Hydro, Black & McDonald, Bootlegger, Business in Vancouver, CSA International, eBay, Edge Consulting, Ernst & Young, Faith Life Financial, First Canadian Title, Gateway Property Management Co, GE Money,

Genworth Financial, GWL Realty Advisors, Investors Group, Maersk, Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown, Methanex, Nokia, Omicron, PHH ARC Environmental, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Sandwell Engineering, TD Canada Trust, Telus, Tonko Realty Advisors, Wells Fargo, Weyerhaeuser.

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AUDITORS REPORT To the Members of Habitat for Humanity Society of Greater Vancouver We have audited the statement of net assets of Habitat for Humanity Society of Greater Vancouver as at December 31, 2007 and the statements of revenue, expenditures and net assets and of cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Societys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. Except as explained in the following paragraph, we conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. In common with many organizations, the Society derives revenues from sources, the completeness of which is not susceptible to satisfactory audit verification. Accordingly, our verification of these revenues was limited to the amounts included in the records of the Society and we were not able to determine whether any adjustments might be necessary to such revenues, excess of revenue over expenditure, assets and net assets. In our opinion, except for the effect of adjustments, if any, which we might have determined to be necessary had we been able to satisfy ourselves concerning the completeness of the revenues referred to in the preceding paragraph, these financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Society as at December 31, 2007 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis.

Chartered Accountants Vancouver, B.C. June 13, 2008

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Annual Report 2007

Board of Directors (at December 31 2007)

Anna Parisi Cossette Communications Dawn L Nickolichuk Trout Lake Group Elizabeth Huntsman Retired Joanne Campbell BC Hydro Michael Tham Centrepacific Development Anneke Rees Habitat Greater Vancouver Derek Hodgkinson Canada Post Jim Lippert Retired Kai Alderson Fasken Martineau Virginia Edelstein Volunteer Vancouver Wayne Arondus Kitchencraft

This 2007 Annual Report is dedicated to the many volunteers and supporters who help make Habitats mission a reality. It is only through their dedication and support that we are able to continue to provide a solution to the affordable housing crisis.

Habitat for Humanity Society of Greater Vancouver Mailing address - PO Box 60577 Granville Park PO, Vancouver, BC V6H 4B9 Office Address: 69 West 69th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5X 2W6 Phone: 604.681.5618 Fax: 604.326.0122 Email: info@vancouverhabitat.bc.ca www.vancouverhabitat.bc.ca 22

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