Habitat volunteers prove their worth under Midnight Sun

On June 20, Habitat for Humanity Iqaluit's first Midnight Sun Build was launched to help address housing needs in the North.
Volunteers from across Canada took advantage of the longest day of the year and worked 24 hours to build a home for a local family in need. The Midnight Sun Build coincided with National Aboriginal Day on June 21.
"The Midnight Sun Build marks the construction of the second Habitat for Humanity home in Iqaluit," said Glenn Cousins, chair of the Habitat for Humanity Iqaluit board of directors. "We believe that Habitat for Humanity is part of the solution to the housing crisis in Iqaluit." He said he was pleased to help another Iqaluit family in need.
The Iqaluit build works to reduce the barriers between families and home ownership, and was designed to raise awareness of the importance of affordable housing in making Canadian communities better places to live, work and grow.
"Just as adequate housing is not a reality for more than half of the Nunavut population, four million Canadians across the nation do not have access to a decent affordable place to live," said Stewart Hardacre, president and chief operating officer of Habitat for Humanity Canada. "This problem will not solve itself. We need the support of volunteers and donors, like we have seen for the Midnight Sun Build, in order to continue to move closer to a solution."
The government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), is a gold sponsor for Habitat for Humanity Canada and the lead national sponsor for the Habitat for Humanity Aboriginal Housing Program.
"I would like to congratulate Habitat Iqaluit on the 2009 Habitat for Humanity Midnight Sun Build," said Leona Aglukkaq, minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Nunavut, on behalf of Diane Finley, minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for CMHC.
"Affordable housing is an important part of our government's commitment to build stronger, healthier and more sustainable communities. We are dedicated to working in partnership with organizations like Habitat for Humanity to address housing needs in Iqaluit and across the country."
Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit, faith-based organization working towards the goal of everyone having a safe and decent place to live. The mission of the organization is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to break the cycle of poverty. Habitat for Humanity Canada was founded in 1985 and consists of more than 50,000 volunteers and 72 affiliate organizations from coast to coast. The organization is also a member of Habitat for Humanity International, which includes 93 countries, has built over 300,000 homes and is now building a new home every 10 minutes.
Habitat for Humanity Iqaluit was founded in 2005 and is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity Canada and the international organization. It engages sponsors and volunteers to provide an affordable housing option for eligible families willing to participate in building their own home.