From building skills to building homes

Halfway through attending a three-year college accounting program, Noah knew his career path wasn’t right. He finished the program and graduated without a clear sense of purpose of what he truly wanted to do or what should come next.

The one thing that was clear for Noah was a desire to contribute to his community, so shortly after his final year of college, Noah applied to volunteer at his local Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

“I was told by many people if you aren’t sure where to go with your career, you should try something new,” says Noah. “Volunteering at Habitat was a great opportunity to do that while giving back.”

A few shifts in, and with his newfound sense of purpose growing, Noah transitioned to Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex’s repair team, a group of volunteers, staff and students who provide essential repairs and general maintenance to ensure seniors and persons living with disabilities are safely housed. The more hours Noah put in, the more his skills for hands-on repair work and commitment to Habitat shone through. Through his time and talent, he contributed significantly to the repair of the City of Windsor’s geared-to-income rentals units, and on Habitat Windsor-Essex’s home building sites – propelling him to a new career as a carpenter.

With 21% of Canada’s construction workforce expected to retire by 2033, the industry will be left with a possible gap of as many as 85,500 workers to supply the millions of housing units Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says are needed to have a chance at achieving housing affordability.

At Habitat, we have a vested interest in fixing this gap. Our Every Youth Initiative engages young people like Noah in volunteerism, education and skill-building, helping them gain experience in skilled trades that can lead to rewarding and in-demand careers. It can even spark a hidden interest, like it did for Noah.

“As a kid I made bird houses at my grandparents’ place because my grandfather was always trying to get me into using tools,” he says. While Noah didn’t have much interest in building back then, he’s very interested now.

Noah’s Habitat experience with repairing all parts of a home, including drywall, stairs, floors, painting, caulking, baseboards, doors and trim, along with installing fences, siding, and gates, fueled his passion for carpentry. In 2024, he graduated from St. Clair College’s one-year program, Carpentry and Renovation Techniques, and is now working full-time as a finishing carpenter apprentice. He credits his experience at Habitat with giving him his first taste of the construction industry and preparing him for working on a job site.

At Habitat, he says, “everyone is very pleasant. Everyone’s patient. Everyone wants to teach you things.”

Noah’s shift from accounting to carpentry, exemplifies the transformative journey that volunteer work and mentorship can offer.

“Watching things come together and making things with my hands is very satisfying … it just feels very rewarding,” says Noah. “There’s a lot to learn, but I think it can make for a very fulfilling career.”