Next summer, a single, working mom and her two daughters will be moving out of their cramped one-bedroom Ottawa apartment and into a brand-new townhome that they can officially call their own.
Melissa Steenkamer is one of 15 families that will reside in the affordable housing community currently being built in Kemptville by Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa (GO), in partnership with the Thousand Islands chapter.
“All I’ve ever wanted was a home, and I took it for granted when I was young that it would be something that I’d easily be able to have once I got older,” the public servant said while speaking to a crowd of more than 300 at the the 18th Annual Steel Toes and Stilettos Gala held at the Shaw Centre on Saturday night in support of Habitat for Humanity GO. The evening raised $161,000.
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Returning as long-time presenting gala sponsor was Ottawa-based general contractor company Laurin. It’s owned by Dennis Laurin, who has a tradition at the gala of matching up to $5,000 in combined donations made that night. By the time the dance floor opened, the total had reached $8,070.
Solomon Friedman, a criminal defence lawyer and a partner of private equity firm Ethical Capital Partners, was back as emcee, live auctioneer, corporate sponsor and all-around funnyman. He captivated his audience with his consummate cleverness and charisma. He also brought genuine focus to the cause and helped to raise a tremendous amount of money.
The evening offered up a 1930s theme to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the local organization’s building of secure and affordable housing in the area. Over the past three decades, Habitat has constructed nearly 100 new homes. Nearly half of its builds have gone up in the last 10 years.
Each year, the organization typically has about 1,000 volunteers helping out at its sites, social enterprise ReStores, community events, or on committees and in the office. The board’s chair, retired assistant deputy minister Scott Stevenson, was in attendance with several of his fellow volunteer board members. “It’s a real privilege for me,” Stevenson said of his role. “I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility and stewardship for the kind of stuff that I get to do as a volunteer here. Board work can be fun but it’s also serious at times.”
Up for grabs in the live auction was a Habitat GO corporate team building experience. Friedman promised potential bidders they’d enjoy themselves, just as he had. If anyone was concerned their trades skills might not measure up to his, Friedman provided reassurance. He did acknowledge that he performed well in his high school shop class but then made this clear distinction: he had attended a Jewish high school.
“Jewish shop class is a little different from regular shop class,” he joked. “We learned to call around for estimates.
“Notwithstanding that, I am here. I have all my fingers and most of my toes. I survived a Habitat Build day. I loved every second of it, and I know your team will.”
The Habitat corporate team build sold twice, at $5,400 each to the top bidders: Mark Motors Group and Capital Taxi, the latter of which also bought the item last year. Capital Taxi’s Claude Thivierge later told OBJ.social that the experience “was unbelievable and definitely worth doing”.
Back for the second year was the Flight to Remember package, which includes a scenic passenger ride in a Cessna Skyhawk flown by Friedman. It proved popular despite his quip: “I’m not great at flying but I’m good enough”. The package also includes fine dining followed by accommodations at the Fairmont Château Laurier and luxury transportation from Capital Taxi. It was sold for $1,700 to Ottawa business leader Gary Zed and his wife, Liza Mrak, co-owner of Mark Motors.
A Sala San Marco four-course catered dinner for eight served in one’s home sold well above its $1,800 value for $3,200.
The gala attracted numerous leaders from the home builder industry, including Habitat GO board member Josh Kardish, senior vice president of eQ Homes, which is affiliated with Regional Group. Also there was Phoenix Homes vice president Rahul Kochar, a long-time supporter of the gala.
From the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association were board president Pat Daniels (Glenview Homes) and past board president David Renfroe (Renfroe Land Management). Supporters also included Rob Pierce, senior vice president of planning and development at Tomlinson, and MARANT Construction business development manager Jennifer Cross and Mastercraft Starwood vice president of property management Kristen Buter. They’re co-founders of CityBUILDHers, a successful new networking and professional development event geared toward women in commercial construction and related fields.
Listening to Steenkamer speak at the podium brought home the reason why the fundraising gala is so important, both for raising awareness and funds. Home ownership had always been her dream but something she just couldn’t afford. Yet, she also knew she’d have to eventually find a better solution to sharing a bedroom with her daughters while living in a building full of pests and strangers. “We’re surrounded by people yet feel so alone,” she told the room.
It was a news article on affordable housing options that directed Steenkamer to the City of Ottawa website, where she first discovered the Habitat GO Affordable Home Ownership Program. She applied.
“I didn’t tell my daughters about the application because I felt it would be like winning the lottery, since there was only one program of its kind and I had no idea of how many people applied, how long the waiting list would be, or if I’d even be contacted at all after the initial application process,” said Steenkamer.
“As many of you know, there are quite a few steps and checks involved in the home ownership program to make sure that the families who are moving in are the right fit and have the same values and beliefs that led to the Habitat for Humanity program to be created in the first place.
“It wasn’t until the home visit that I let the children know, so they would know why we had strangers in our apartment. But, I told them not to get their hopes up, not until we heard back.”
The family got the “life-changing” good news soon after. Anyone can apply to become a Habitat homeowner but must be in need of housing, able to make affordable mortgage payments and be willing to actively partner with their Habitat organization, including a commitment to complete 500 volunteer hours.
Steenkamer spoke glowingly of the Habitat staff, volunteers and other families. “Everyone is so kind, caring and understanding,” said the mom, who remains touched by those who pitch in when they don’t have to. “For them to give hours and hours of their time to help people in the community have a real home shows how much love their hearts contain.”
The mom listed a few of things she’s most looking forward to, from being able to permanently hang up family photos on the walls to having other children around for her daughters to play with.
Most of all, she can’t wait for the three of them to be able to sit around a table and enjoy meals together. They don’t have enough space in their current apartment to do that.
“Sometimes, it’s the little things in life,” said Steenkamer, whose heartwarming speech ended in a standing ovation from the audience.
caroline@obj.ca
