Canadian home improvement retailer RONA is chipping in major funds to help low-income families in need of homes in the Okanagan.

The RONA Foundation is donating $150,000 to the Habitat for Humanity Okanagan Society 鈥� a non-profit organization that helps low-income families achieve home ownership 鈥� as part of the second edition of its Build from the Heart program, which was launched in May 2023.

The funds will be used to complete a multi-family housing project in Lake Country that will add 12 homes for low-income families in the community once it is completed. 

"At the RONA Foundation, we鈥檙e driven by the desire to make a difference in the lives of people every day. At a time when access to housing is a challenge, making Canadian populations all the more vulnerable, we want to help communities," said Catherine Laporte, president of the RONA Foundation鈥檚 board of directors and senior vice-president of marketing and customer experience at RONA.

Build from the Heart aims to support non-profit organizations in constructing or improving homes to revitalize living environments, making it easier for Canadians to access housing. More specifically, the program seeks to help victims of domestic violence and their children, low-income families and people with disabilities or mental health issues.

Following a call-out that resulted in 100 applications being submitted, a selection committee chose the projects of seven non-profits from provinces where RONA has stores. These organizations will share a total of $1 million. 

The funds distributed as part of this program were raised through a number of initiatives, including a fundraising campaign held at all corporate stores and some RONA affiliated stores last May; the sale of winter hats bearing the logo of the foundation; and the RONA Foundation's annual golf day that took place at La Vall茅e du Richelieu Golf Club on July 15.

"This day was an incredible demonstration of solidarity. We work hand in hand with our vendor partners to bring real change to the lives of vulnerable people thanks to the funds raised," said Jos茅e Lafitte, director of the RONA Foundation. "I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to all the customers who generously contributed to the campaign last May. Thank you, your donations make a real difference!"

Habitat for Humanity Okanagan thanked the RONA Foundation for helping to provide safe, decent nd affordable homes for families in need. 

"We are proud to call the RONA Foundation a partner in our mission and we are grateful to be receiving funding through the RONA Foundations鈥� Build from the Heart program this year, especially in such uncertain economic times where so many more families are facing financial instability as Canada continues to grapple with a national housing crisis,鈥� said Danielle Smith, director of resource development of Habitat for Humanity Okanagan.

To learn more about the projects that will receive funding through the program, visit .