Building Forward Together

Dear Friends, Partners, and Supporters,

As I sit down to reflect on the past year, I do so with immense gratitude. 2024 was a year of challenges, hope, and above all heart. And at the heart of everything we achieved were our people: our staff, our volunteers, our board, and every single person who believes in the mission of Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia.

This year, we helped two families move into safe, stable homes. While that number may seem modest, the impact on those families is profound. For Phil and Sue, who lost everything in the Upper Tantallon wildfire, their new home became a symbol of healing and community resilience. For Emily and Zach in New Glasgow, their Habitat home means their son will grow up with the stability they never had as children. These aren’t just homes; they’re new beginnings.

These builds would not have been possible without the incredible generosity of our volunteers. From the skilled hands that framed walls to the students who wrote about the meaning of home, you showed up. In fact, 790 volunteers donated their time this year including over 4,000 hours in our ReStore alone. You gave us your time, energy and love and in return, you gave our families a future.

To our staff: you are the backbone of this organization. Whether working the floor at the ReStore, coordinating donors, balancing budgets, or lifting walls on site, your dedication inspires me every single day. Our small but mighty team went above and beyond, taking on new initiatives, growing sales at the Dartmouth ReStore to over $1.5 million, and coordinating events like Stud-a-Thon and Habitat’s HUGE House Party. You wear many hats and carry many burdens, and you do it all with compassion, creativity, and courage.

This year also brought a new experience for our affiliate, responding to disaster. The Upper Tantallon Wildfire Relief Build was our first foray into disaster recovery. It pushed us into unfamiliar territory. I’m proud of how our team showed up with empathy, rolled up our sleeves, and partnered with experts like the Red Cross and United Way Halifax to do what we could. That experience taught us the power of partnerships and reinforced the importance of staying true to what we do best, building safe, affordable homes.

We also broke new ground in New Glasgow, not only with a new home, but with a renewed sense of local engagement and pride. Volunteers like Sandy and John became part of our story, showing how one person can make a difference just by showing up with a toolbelt and a full heart.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to continue growing our impact with purpose, and with community. Plans for a second ReStore in New Glasgow are underway, we are working on new partnership around housing, and we’re thrilled to host Habitat’s 2025 National Conference here in Halifax.

But no matter how big we grow, the core of our work remains deeply human. It’s in the handshake from a new homeowner, the tears at a key ceremony, the laughter on a build site, and the quiet pride of a volunteer knowing they made someone’s life better.

To our board: thank you for your trust and guidance. To our donors: thank you for investing in families and futures. And to our staff and volunteers, thank you for being the heartbeat of Habitat NS.

Together, we are not just building homes; we are building hope, stability, and community. And I couldn’t be prouder to do this work with all of you.

With heartfelt gratitude,