Blog

June 26^th, 2026

Where Everyone Belongs: Breaking Ground Together

By: Allan Mills, Executive Director

At Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, we believe in a community where everyone belongs and is valued for their contributions. This includes people from all walks of life, particularly those who may be at risk of being left out or pushed out, and who deserve safe, affordable housing and a strong sense of belonging.

Members of our team were present for both Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region’s initial announcement of the “BUILD NOW” initiative in 2025 and the groundbreaking ceremony on June 24, 2026.

The BUILD NOW initiative, led by Philip Mills and the team at Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region, is a tangible demonstration of what it means to create belonging through housing. One of the partners, Union Community Housing, will be the first to break ground, with plans for an 85-unit affordable apartment building welcoming residents in fall 2027.

“This is a home for people in the City of Waterloo who want a home, but are just being pushed out,” said Sean Campbell, Executive Director of Union Community Housing.

Campbell has brought together several partner organizations to support Union Housing at Country Squire. Potential tenants could include women and children in need of shelter, refugees, Indigenous people, individuals with developmental disabilities, and others who cannot afford the high market cost of housing in Waterloo.

“Today’s a huge step,” said Philip Mills, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity. “We are going to make housing affordable for people again.”

At Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, we are thrilled to be one of the partners in this work. Our role will include securing affordable housing for adults with developmental disabilities, while also helping to foster connection and belonging across the broader community.

For example, we plan to host a satellite site for our KW Library of Things (KWLOT) lending library, ensuring access to everyday items that community members need, without the barrier of cost, and providing shared resources such as tools, kitchenware, and camping gear.

Our goal is to bring people together, ensuring that everyone feels valued and respected. We can’t imagine a better place to dig in with this work than Union Housing at Country Squire.

We extend our gratitude to Mayor Dorothy McCabe & the City of Waterloo, Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region, everyone involved in BUILD NOW, and especially to Sean and the team at Union Community Housing. Shovels are in the dirt… now let’s build a more inclusive, connected community together!

Read more about this groundbreaking ceremony:

Largest affordable housing project in Canada begins in Waterloo (CityNews Kitchener)

Waterloo breaks ground on affordable homes for people who ‘are just being pushed out’ (The Record)