Latest news with #HabitatforHumanity
The Spinoff
20-07-2025
- General
- The Spinoff
Curtain banks are in hot demand
Around the country, a network of curtain banks make and provide curtains that keep homes warm and electricity bills down. Demand is ever-growing, and they're sewing frantically to keep up. If you walk through Habitat for Humanity's Ōtara superstore, down the external and currently chilly alleyway full of ceramic sinks, toilets and baths, there's another reclaimed industrial building. On its bright blue painted side, there's a white sign reading 'CURTAIN BANK' over a set of glass doors. Inside, two industrial sewing machines are humming, their operators carefully running pieces of fabric and curtain tape through straight as an arrow. The irons are hot. There's three big pattern-cutting tables and along the walls, shelves with bundles of curtains labelled with order numbers or dimensions. This is Habitat's curtain bank, where last year the team sent out more curtains than ever before – 11,215 curtains for 732 families. It's not like a food bank where people are only given what's already there – almost every curtain is customised. This bank is just one of a network of 22 curtain banks scattered from Auckland all the way down to Invercargill. Most of the curtain banks don't stand alone – they're part of the Healthy Homes Initiative, with Health New Zealand saying curtains are the highest identified need – ahead of heaters, bedding, mould cleaning kits, blankets, window squeegees and small repairs. The Healthy Homes Initiative, which aims to help more families live in warm, dry homes, has been successful and cost-effective in reducing child hospitalisations, improving school attendance, reducing energy hardship and a raft of other health and social benefits. And yet, there's not a mention of curtains in the Healthy Homes Standards. That means that landlords are not obliged to provide them, and so many don't, especially at the lower end of the rental market. Many houses seen by Healthy Homes teams don't have any curtains at all, or they might be thin or mouldy. Sometimes people have venetian blinds or roller blinds that don't provide a thermal barrier. Often, people don't realise how much of a difference curtains can make. In Wellington, orders are closed at the city's only curtain bank, run by Sustainability Trust. The team of two full-time staff and 27 volunteers is still working on curtain orders from last year, and it's not just sewing. Here, as well as providing curtains, the team aims to divert as much waste as possible from landfill. All the curtains begin with a donation, usually of a pre-loved curtain and occasionally of fabric. Donations need to be unpacked and checked for mold which is either cut, pulled or unpicked away. The rest is measured, laundered and filed in one of two little rooms that serve as the curtain library. Curtain tracks and their brackets are donated too. In another room they're cleaned and refurbished. There's also gliders, hooks and tape to sort and store. 'I keep on taking up more space,' says Julie Gunn, the curtain bank manager. 'There's just a lot happening. We are getting lots of curtain donations coming in, which is good, but we need to keep up.' Then comes actually filling orders. Measurements of the windows of a household come through home visits by the trust's Heathy Homes team or other referral pathways. Best practice guidelines are followed so that the curtains are as effective as possible. The length must be 'to the floor and a little bit more,' says Gunn, and the width must allow for plenty of folds and for the curtain to extend past the window frame, 'so there's less chance for that warm air to sneak in behind the curtain'. It's also important that the curtains are lined to create an insulating layer of air. Gunn compares it to the puff in a puffer jacket. Ideally, the fabric is a tightly woven natural fibre, heavy and thick. Thermal backed curtains aren't great as the backing deteriorates and can't easily be washed. 'There's so much love and care that goes into each step of the process,' says Gunn. But the curtain bank needs more than that to run. At the end of the year, its major sponsorship is coming to an end. Even that sponsorship doesn't cover costs – the shortfall is made up for by the Sustainability Trust. 'We apply to every funding opportunity that comes along,' says Gunn. 'We have noticed that there is more and more demand on the charitable and philanthropic funding that is available. That's tough, because everyone applying to those funding opportunities is doing really good and really important work.' Up in Auckland, the Habitat curtain bank services households across the city and in Northland. They can keep their wait times down – about two months in summer and six in winter – because compared to other curtain banks they are well-resourced and staffed. They purchase premade curtains and new curtain fabric, lining, tape and tracks. Still, even the premade curtains are almost always customised in some way to properly fit the window they are heading to. 'These are top-end custom curtains,' says Jane, an experienced sewist there. She's pressing a crisp seam on a chocolate brown curtain with flocked flowers. 'For the most part people are really appreciative,' she says. A national network of curtain banks tries to meet yearly. A couple of years ago, Curtain Call, a group that advocates adding curtains to the Healthy Homes Standards, sprung from the network. Curtain Call argues that leaving curtains out leaves a gap in the legislation, and in 2023 publicly campaigned, met with politicians and petitioned the government. With the coalition government, they changed their tack. Leana Hunt, operations manager in Habitat's northern region, says 'it's not their [the government's] priority right now'. Curtain Call is continuing to raise awareness among communities, without directly petitioning politicians. For as long as curtains aren't in the standards, curtain banks will continue to face more demand than they can keep up with, but not without joy. 'It is sad that there is so much need out there,' says Gunn from Wellington, 'but it is a wonderful thing to be involved with.' When families open up their boxes of curtains, 'I want all of that love to spill out onto them, because we love what we do.'
Chicago Tribune
08-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
First home going up at Aurora's new ‘smart neighborhood'
The foundation has been laid and the walls are going up for the very first home in Aurora's new 'smart neighborhood,' part of a partnership between Nicor Gas and Habitat for Humanity that looks to build a net-zero emission, affordable community. Habitat Green Freedom, located near the intersection of Jericho Road and Edgelawn Drive, will eventually hold 17 homes designed with energy efficiency, green energy and resiliency in mind. Construction began this week on the neighborhood's show home, which is set to be complete by mid-October, and five other houses are expected to be built by December. 'This is a project that we've been dreaming about and working on for many, many years, and today it finally becomes a reality,' Barb Beckman, executive director of the Northern Fox Valley's Habitat for Humanity, said at a construction kick-off event on Tuesday morning. The neighborhood's homes are expected to be affordable not only because of Habitat for Humanity's special mortgages but also because of technology incorporated into the houses themselves, which should lower homeowners' utility bills. Some of that technology includes rooftop solar panels, batteries to store energy from the solar panels, smart thermostats and energy-efficient appliances. Plus, the houses are being built in ways that will make them more energy-efficient. One of those building techniques was showcased at Tuesday's kick-off event: foam blocks connected by plastic webs that fit together sort of like LEGO bricks. The modular foam pieces, made by BuildBlock Building Systems, are interlaced with rebar as they build up the walls of the structure. The blocks are then used as a mold for concrete, giving the building technique the name 'insulating concrete form.' Micah Garrett, CEO of BuildBlock, said the insulating concrete form walls will make the houses both disaster resilient and energy efficient, helping to lower utility costs by 30% to 40%. The blocks also make construction faster, as they account for what would normally be multiple steps in the building process while only weighing seven or eight pounds. In fact, the blocks were so easy to use that government and company officials who attended the kick-off event helped to build up one of the house's walls after only a short lesson from Garrett. The goal of the energy-efficient building techniques and integrated technology is to make the homes 'net-zero,' meaning that they produce as much energy as they take to power, heat and cool, according to a fact sheet distributed at the event. The homes are also 'dual-fuel,' using both electricity and natural gas, which the fact sheet said can be more cost-effective and comfortable in a cold climate like Illinois. Specifically, natural gas is expected to power the homes' heating and water heating systems, said a different fact sheet also distributed at the event. It is because of Nicor Gas' support that Habitat for Humanity can built 'not just houses, but affordable and resilient homes that will be strong foundations for Habitat families,' Beckman said. Habitat brings expertise in housing development, she said. while Nicor brings to the project expertise in energy and innovation. Wendell Dallas, president and CEO of Nicor Gas, said it is a privilege to serve the families that will one day be living in the neighborhood. 'I've had the wonderful privilege of working with the team over these past few years, and now seeing this come up out of the ground to actually become a reality is just an amazing, wonderful, incredible achievement,' Dallas said. Nicor is doing what few companies these days are doing: looking to the future rather than just short-term profits, according to U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, who helped secure $1.25 million in federal funding for the project. Plus, he said Habitat for Humanity is an important part of the solution to the affordable housing crisis in America. Aurora Mayor John Laesch, who said he also supported the project when he was an alderman, is looking forward to when the project is complete and to see 'all the geeky numbers' like how much energy will be saved. As a green builder himself, Laesch is working to make his 120-year-old home more energy-efficient, but if he had to build new, 'this is exactly what I'd be doing,' he said. 'This is the future, and it's exciting that all these partners have come together to make this home possible,' Laesch said at the event. This first house going up on the site of the future neighborhood will be built by Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley, but the other five homes to be built this year will be done through a Habitat-organized 'Home Builders Blitz' that will bring in volunteer builders and tradespeople to get the job done in a shorter timeline. All of the homes in Habitat Green Freedom will go to those in Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley's home ownership program, which can be applied for at According to the website, applicants are selected for the program based on their level of housing need, willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the no-profit, no-interest loan. Nicor Gas' partnership with Habitat for Humanity is also bringing a smart neighborhood to Carpentersville, though the homes will be different. This will allow Nicor Gas to see how various building techniques and technologies impact energy use and other factors throughout the year, according to a fact sheet. Southern Company, the parent company of Nicor Gas, also has other 'smart neighborhoods' in Georgia, Alabama and soon in Mississippi, a fact sheet said, but the ones in Aurora and Carpentersville are the first to use natural gas.
Cision Canada
08-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
THE RONA FOUNDATION PRESENTS $1.3 MILLION TO 8 CANADIAN NPOs THROUGH ITS 2025 BUILD FROM THE HEART PROGRAM Français
BOUCHERVILLE, QC, July 8, 2025 /CNW/ - The RONA Foundation, which oversees the philanthropic activities of RONA inc., one of Canada's leading home improvement retailers operating and servicing some 425 corporate and affiliated dealer stores, will present a total of $1.3M to eight non-profit organizations (NPOs) across the country through its 2025 Build from the Heart program. This initiative, which was launched in 2022, is designed to provide financial support to NPOs with projects aimed at revitalizing a living environment or facilitating access to housing for victims of domestic violence and their children, low-income families, and people with disabilities or mental health issues. The beneficiary organizations were selected earlier this year following a call for applications. A selection committee studied the projects and made their decision based on a rigorous evaluation grid. "At the RONA Foundation, we care deeply about improving life in the communities where we take root. Given that access to housing is a major challenge that underscores the vulnerability of many Canadians, we are committed to supporting this cause," says Catherine Laporte, Chair of the RONA Foundation Board of Directors and Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Customer Experience at RONA. The program raised funds through a mix of initiatives, including: A fundraising campaign that took place in all RONA+ and RONA corporate stores and online at from April 21 to May 31, 2025. The new "Win Your Renovations" contest, which gave customers who donated $15 or more a chance to win one of three RONA gift cards, including one for $25,000 and two for $1,000. A partnership with several major appliance vendors (Amana, Bosch, Electrolux, Frigidaire, Frigidaire Gallery, GE - MABE, KitchenAid, LG, LG Studio, Maytag, Midea, Samsung, and Whirlpool), who donated $5 to the RONA Foundation for every major appliance sold in stores and online from April 17 to May 28. The RONA Foundation's annual Golf Day, held at the Club de Golf La Vallée du Richelieu on July 7, 2025, which was attended by many RONA vendors. "The Golf Day was an incredible demonstration of solidarity," says Foundation Director Josée Lafitte. "Thank you to our partners, customers and donors. Every action counts. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to each of them for their generosity and support. Together, we can make a difference." Organizations Supported by the Build from the Heart Program in 2025 Province Name Amount received Alberta Habitat for Humanity Edmonton $100,000 British Columbia Hollyburn Community Services Society $150,000 Manitoba Genesis House $50,000 Nova Scotia Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia $50,000 Ontario Gillian's Place $300,000 Ontario Lanark County Interval House and Community Support $300,000 Québec La Traversée $300,000 Saskatchewan Moose Jaw Women's Transition House $50,000 To learn more about the organizations and projects that will receive funding through the Build from the Heart program, visit To share this news on social media, please use @RONAEN (Facebook), @RONA (LinkedIn), and @RONAinc (X). Information on the 2026 campaign will be announced in the fall on the official website About the RONA Foundation The RONA Foundation is a charity established in 1998, whose mission is to help improve the quality of life of Canadians in need by revitalizing their living environments or making it easier to access housing. In particular, it aims to help victims of domestic violence and their children, low-income families, and people with disabilities or mental health issues. Visit us at to learn more about the RONA Foundation. About RONA inc. RONA inc. is one of Canada's leading home improvement retailers headquartered in Boucherville, Québec. The RONA inc. network operates or services some 425 corporate and affiliated dealer stores under the RONA+, RONA, and Dick's Lumber banners. With a long and rich history, RONA inc. supports Canadians in their home improvement and construction projects since 1939. To achieve this, the company relies on a team of 21,000 employees, to whom it strives to provide an inclusive workplace where everyone is encouraged to contribute. As a result of its ongoing efforts in sustainable development, the company is recognized as one of Canada's Greenest Employers. To learn more about the company, visit
New Indian Express
29-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
After decades in the US, Iranians arrested in Trump's deportation drive
The department "has been full throttle on identifying and arresting known or suspected terrorists and violent extremists that illegally entered this country, came in through Biden's fraudulent parole programs or otherwise,' spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said of the 11 arrests. She didn't offer any evidence of terrorist or extremist ties. Her comment on parole programs referred to President Joe Biden's expanded legal pathways to entry, which his successor, Donald Trump, shut down. Russell Milne, Kashanian's husband, said his wife is not a threat. Her appeal for asylum was complicated because of 'events in her early life," he explained. A court found an earlier marriage of hers to be fraudulent. But over four decades, Kashanian, 64, built a life in Louisiana. The couple met when she was bartending as a student in the late 1980s. They married and had a daughter. She volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, filmed Persian cooking tutorials on YouTube and was a grandmother figure to the children next door. The fear of deportation always hung over the family, Milne said, but he said his wife did everything that was being asked of her. 'She's meeting her obligations," Milne said. "She's retirement age. She's not a threat. Who picks up a grandmother?' While Iranians have been crossing the border illegally for years, especially since 2021, they have faced little risk of being deported to their home countries due to severed diplomatic relations with the US. That seems to no longer be the case. The Trump administration has deported hundreds of people, including Iranians, to countries other than their own in an attempt to circumvent diplomatic hurdles with governments that won't take their people back. During Trump's second term, countries including El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama have taken back noncitizens from the US. The administration has asked the Supreme Court to clear the way for several deportations to South Sudan, a war-ravaged country with which it has no ties, after the justices allowed deportations to countries other than those noncitizens came from. The US Border Patrol arrested Iranians 1,700 times at the Mexican border from October 2021 through November 2024, according to the most recent public data available. The Homeland Security Department reported that about 600 Iranians overstayed visas as business or exchange visitors, tourists and students in the 12-month period through September 2023, the most recent data reports. Iran was one of 12 countries subject to a US travel ban that took effect this month. Some fear ICE's growing deportation arrests will be another blow. In Oregon, an Iranian man was detained by immigration agents this past week while driving to the gym. He was picked up roughly two weeks before he was scheduled for a check-in at ICE offices in Portland, according to court documents filed by his attorney, Michael Purcell. The man, identified in court filings as 'SF', has lived in the US for over 20 years, and his wife and two children are US citizens. SF applied for asylum in the US in the early 2000s, but his application was denied in 2002. His appeal failed but the government did not deport him and he continued to live in the country for decades, according to court documents. Due to 'changed conditions' in Iran, SF would face 'a vastly increased danger of persecution' if he were to be deported, Purcell wrote in his petition. 'These circumstances relate to the recent bombing by the United States of Iranian nuclear facilities, thus creating a de facto state of war between the United States and Iran.' SF's long residency in the US, his conversion to Christianity and the fact that his wife and children are US citizens 'sharply increase the possibility of his imprisonment in Iran, or torture or execution,' he said. Similarly, Kashanian's daughter said she is worried what will happen to her mother. 'She tried to do everything right,' Kaitlynn Milne said.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Habitat for Humanity building new homes starting at $175,000
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Habitat for Humanity is building a new middle-class neighborhood with affordable housing on an abandoned golf course in Terrytown. 'Rising Oaks is our newest 150 home development that was a golf course that sat dormant for decades. So, it is changing something that was vacant and empty into 150 homes for working families,' said Alix Aucoin, New Orleans Habitat for Humanity director of development. Two single moms part of Habitat For Humanity get $100 Winn Dixie gift cards No longer Plantation Estates Golf Course in Terrytown. Now off Behrman Highway, Habitat for Humanity is developing this new neighborhood. Rising Oaks is a new affordable housing community where up to four-bedroom homes are being sold, and they range in price from $175,000 to $275,000. 'We're really targeting that working family who have been priced out of traditional mortgages, and the families that also don't qualify for government subsidies,' Aucoin said. 'This is for our first responders, firefighters, police officers, teachers, our service industry and nurses.' New Orleans Habitat for Humanity wins climate resiliency award Aucoin said that all these new homes are built in the mid-century modern style. 'You'll notice the ceilings are vaulted to give it that bigger feel,' Aucoin said. Habitat for Humanity said it will also be building a FitLot, fitness trails, playgrounds and a butterfly garden to add to the community feel of the new neighborhood. Aucoin said all the homes in the neighborhood are being built to be hurricane-resilient. 'They have impact resistant doors and windows,' Aucoin said. 'They are fortified gold homes. The slabs are built on pilings, and they are built with insulation that will withstand the next storm.' Typically, volunteers build the homes for Habitat for Humanity, but these homes are being built by contractors and construction workers. If you'd like to apply for one of these homes, visit the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity website for more information. The homes will be completed by Orleans' Jones Academy hosts Color Run to benefit students Lane of Bonnet Carré Spillway closed after overnight commercial vehicle trailer fire From racetrack to ballpark: Bristol's MLB transformation shifts into high gear Best New Car Warranties in 2025 Heat advisory issued for Wednesday until 7 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
