RAMP is a volunteer organization with a mission to reduce regional, generational poverty by raising awareness and supporting programs that are working to lift people up and out of poverty

Awareness   Impact   Support

Understanding Systemic Barriers

Housing

• The District of Muskoka has 574 community housing units
• The District of Muskoka has 94 affordable housing units
• 70 families are housed in hotels
• The waiting list for community/affordable housing is: 674
• 51% of residents in units pay in excess of 30% of their income for housing 

Shaping a New Tomorrow

As humans, we have two rights. One is the right to food which was covered in the previous issue. The second right is the right to shelter.  Lack of affordable housing has created a huge deficit in providing access to affordable and suitable shelter for far too many of our local community members.  And a home is so much more than a roof over our head.  Everyone deserves a safe and decent place to call home.

A premier organization in providing affordable housing is Habitat for Humanity.  Its brilliant format is good for both the occupant and the community.

The occupant wins because they can pay an affordable, geared-to-income mortgage and own their house, strength, stability and self-reliance.  The occupant contributes 500 volunteers hours to the construction of their home, building pride in ownership as well as the walls, the roof, etc.  They learn valuable skills, enabling good upkeep of the house.

The community gains a welcome new member.  Did you know that Habitat for Humanity teaches their homeowners about how to be a good neighbour?   

Bala Build Project

Citizens and community members can contribute in many ways.  A donation is always welcome. Patronizing the ReStore funds the organization.  Contributions to the store of gently used, quality items you no longer need provides items for sale.  A valuable source of wares is when homes are being demolished.  Careful deconstruction teams are sent out to retrieve all useful housing components. 

Habitat for Humanity is a wonderful hand up, not a hand out, for those seeking to build a brighter future for their family. To find out more, watch Jim's Story.

It is said that if 20 people are shipwrecked they can survive because the varied skills of the marooned would provide all the knowledge required to subsist. As more and more directors have been appointed to the RAMP steering committee, our varied skillset ensures that we will be able to fulfill our mandate.  It is also said that over 90% of non-profits do not last and within two years have disbanded. We were established in 2019; so as long as we are helping people achieve strength, stability and self-reliance, we are here to stay. 

This new partner initiative has launched!

More donations have been made to the Willis Bursary. This will allow three students to enroll in a one year program for each of the next three years to learn a trade. The selection of the three candidates is scheduled to be made in May.

Please activate your personal networks to support this great initiative.