More Than A Home
More Than A Home
The Homes Unlimited Memorial Bursary Fund
Sign outside Homes Unlimited’s Ormah Gibson Tower on 390 Burwell Avenue, built in 2006 and named after a founding member of Homes Unlimited.
Homes Unlimited (London) Inc. is a London-based non-profit housing developer. Founded in 1972, the organization, along with its sister corporation Odell-Jalna Residences of London, owns 524 affordable housing units across the city, offering safe, affordable and accessible housing for people in London with lower incomes. As part of the Vision Soho Alliance, Homes Unlimited plans to add 100 more affordable units to its roster with a new building on the old Victoria Hospital lands.
Originally established in 1993 as the Fanshawe Bursary, the Homes Unlimited Memorial Bursary Fund supports tenants, or their children, living at a property operated by Homes Unlimited (London) Inc. or Odell-Jalna Residences of London Ontario with tuition fees for full-time studies at Fanshawe College.
The Homes Unlimited Memorial Bursary Fund, managed by London Community Foundation since 2002, has granted over $20,000 since its inception, thanks in no small part to generous donations by Arnsby Property Management.
“We support the Homes Unlimited Memorial Bursary knowing that many tenants over the years have been given a hand up to achieve their educational goals,” says Evelyn Arnsby, owner of Arnsby Property Management. “Education and housing stability go hand in hand and Homes Unlimited strives to do that. It has been a privilege for Arnsby to be a part of this over the years.”
While the Fund usually disburses two $1,000 bursaries, the Fund’s steady growth over time has allowed for a third grant in 2020 – a testament to both the care, compassion and generosity of Homes Unlimited and the power of endowment.
Homes Unlimited’s newest building, located at 770 Whetter Avenue.
“Homes Unlimited has grown considerably over the last 10 years, however our mission has never changed – to provide safe, affordable housing to Londoners with lower levels of income,” says Cathy Park, Administration Manager at Homes Unlimited. “The annual Bursary gives us the opportunity to support our tenants in their personal and professional growth as well.”
Homes Unlimited tenant Ashelie Plobst was one of last year’s recipients and was able to finish her carpentry program at Fanshawe College despite the additional obstacle of attending school during COVID-19 thanks to a Homes Unlimited Memorial Bursary.
“Pushing through my last year in carpentry in the middle of a pandemic was a challenge I was not expecting,” says Ashelie. “ Thanks to the great support I received from my teachers, friends and organizations like LCF and Homes Unlimited, I was able to graduate my carpentry program with a high GPA, and have since been hired from my co-op placement and working towards my career goals.”
And while Ashelie is grateful for the support she herself has received, she recognizes the importance of this bursary for the community she calls home.
“This bursary is truly helpful, a blessing for the Homes Unlimited community that we live in,” says Ashelie. “I’ve overcome obstacles I would have never thought possible this year because of it, and I know this bursary will do, and has done, the same for many other students living in the Homes Unlimited community.”
Home Unlimited (London) Inc. is just one of the multiple affordable housing projects LCF has invested in to tackle London’s housing crisis.