Imagine Build working toward fifth accessible home on Oneida
A charity that builds accessible homes for Indigenous families in need on the Onieda Nation of the Thames is hoping for a big holiday push for its latest project.
“This is what Imagine Build is about,” said Imagine Build team member, Charity Doxtator.
“Because we have such a housing shortage, financially, and now since COVID, to build a home now is in excess of $300,000. So, the need here on Oneida is very, very great.”
Imagine Build has now completed four homes for Oneida families.
But the need in the community has not subsided. Imagine Build team member Jade Doxtator said they’re now hoping to get started soon on a fifth home.
“We as Anishinaabe people believe in seven generations. Everything is done for seven generations ahead of you. So, when you get a family in that home, not only are you putting them in there, but you’re putting the children, and the grandkids, somewhere to call home, their homestead,” he explained.
According to Oneida Chief Todd Cornelius, one of the reasons people leave the community is the lack of suitable housing. Part of the Imagine Build goal is to reverse that trend.
“I know the big picture would be to bring a lot of community members back to Oneida community. There aren’t that many houses, but we’re just building what we can, one at a time,” said Chief Cornelius.
Imagine Build is about $83,000 short of reaching its target for a fifth home.
Donor and Imagine Build Team member Lynn Davis, who previously donated $100,000, is making a new pledge of $8,000. She’s calling on others who are able to, to step up.
“And we had ten people give us $8,000 each, and then if we had a bunch of people give us $10, $20, $50, $100, we could actually accomplish this, and a roof would be over the head of a family of five in the spring of 2025,” said Davis.
Those wishing to make a contribution can do so at The Imagine Build.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They thought he wasn't making it': B.C. soccer star's family on his shocking shooting — and remarkable recovery
Born and raised in Metro Vancouver, Nathan Demian was living his dream playing soccer for top-ranked Ohio State University, when he was shot during a post-game pizza run with his brother Saturday night.
MPs approve $21.6B in supplementary spending; Conservatives vote against
Parliament has approved $21.6 billion in government spending, in a late Tuesday vote in the House of Commons.
No injuries reported after gunshots fired inside Etobicoke high school, 2 suspects outstanding
Toronto police are searching for two suspects after gunshots were fired inside an Etobicoke high school late Tuesday afternoon.
DEVELOPING Luigi Mangione shouts as he is led into courthouse where he contests extradition to N.Y.
The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO struggled with deputies and shouted Tuesday while arriving for a court appearance in Pennsylvania, a day after he was arrested at a McDonald’s and charged with murder.
Celebrities and coastal residents flee from wind-driven wildfire in Malibu
Evacuation orders and warnings have gone out to 20,000 Southern California residents Tuesday as firefighters battled a wind-driven wildfire in Malibu that burned near celebrities' seaside mansions, horse farms and Pepperdine University, the sheriff's department said.
Waterloo Region mistakenly applied $13.7M discount to Amazon build in Blair
The Region of Waterloo will not be able to demand $13.7 million from a developer after they said a discount was mistakenly issued for the development of an Amazon fulfillment centre.
Dolly Parton explains why her longtime husband doesn't attend events with her
Dolly Parton has been married for 58 years, but you probably could count on one hand the times you have seen her with her husband.
'Which one of those two is going to win?': Poilievre prods Trudeau, Freeland over spending tension
Revived talk of tensions between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland prompted new questions Tuesday, about how big the federal deficit will be in next week's economic update.
Ex-minister cites 'threat to security' for denying emergency passport to Abdelrazik
Former foreign minister Lawrence Cannon says he denied an emergency passport to Abousfian Abdelrazik in 2009 because he considered the Montreal man a possible threat to national security.