DURHAM REGION - Durham Region Association of REALTORS® (DRAR) held its Annual General Meeting on April 4, 2014. Dan Carter, a professional speaker and leadership expert, was invited to speak at the event. During his presentation, he approached a Member of DRAR and extended a challenge. He gave him $20 and asked that he challenge his fellow DRAR Members to match that $20, and give the sum of the money to someone within our community that is in need.

In 24 hours, that $20 turned into almost $1800. The money has been donated to two women who are clients at the Denise House.

One woman is 6 1/2 months pregnant and "Social Assistance (Ontario Works) has guidelines to allocate funds to a woman based on being on her own until there is a live birth" explained Deb Koeper, Program Manager at the Denise House.  "In other words, they will only give her money based on a single person. The problem is the that she then cannot afford anything but a room on the income for a single woman and would have to accept a room and then begin a housing search right after the baby is born. The second difficulty is that landlords see that she is obviously pregnant and do not want to rent a 'room' to her.  She does not have enough money to rent what would best satisfy welcoming her new baby into a home" Koeper added.

"The second situation of a woman in need has some similarities. She has also been with us for a couple of months and she is also pregnant, but only five months along. The difference in her situation is that she is on a Disability Program which adds a little more of a challenge. She is unable to receive last month's rent, which is requested by landlords to begin the rental process.  The money that so kindly donated today will go towards her last month's rent" stated Koeper.

"You have made two women very happy with your generosity. I cannot believe that a $20.00 challenge raised almost  $1800.00 in less than 24 hours and you have brightened the lives of two women and their expected babies" expressed Koeper. "On behalf of these two families and The Denise House staff and volunteers, thank you from the bottom of our hearts".

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