Habitat for Humanity Canada has announced it is 鈥渄isaffiliating鈥� Habitat for Humanity Kamloops, but the former Habitat Kamloops executive director says it will have no impact on its ReStores or housing developments other than a name change.

鈥淭he disaffiliation requires the non-profit organization, which has been operating as Habitat for Humanity Kamloops, to immediately cease using the Habitat for Humanity brand, including removing the Habitat name and logo from all of its social media accounts, advertising and other assets,鈥� reads an Oct. 13 media release from Habitat Canada.

鈥淎s a charitable organization committed to providing safe and affordable housing to families living with low income, Habitat for Humanity holds itself to high operational and governance standards,鈥� the release stated. It added that 鈥渢he former affiliate鈥� was unable to meet these standards. It didn鈥檛 outline what the standards are.

It said while Habitat for Humanity is no longer operating in the communities served by the former affiliate, it is exploring ways to continue to serve them.

Habitat Canada said it has been working with Habitat Kamloops for the past year to help it meet standards, but former Habitat Kamloops executive director Bill Miller said that鈥檚 not the case.

A media release from the Habitat for Humanity Kamloops Society noted its board of directors voted unanimously to cut ties with Habitat Canada and to negotiate a mutually acceptable disaffiliation agreement with it.

鈥淩ather than work with us, Habitat Canada has arbitrarily chosen to accelerate the disaffiliation鈥︹��

The Habitat Kamloops society also noted that 鈥済oing public with the issues between us benefits neither organization, was completely unnecessary, and causes harm to our communities.鈥�

In December 2021, 鈥淗abitat Kamloops retained legal counsel to assist with issues arising from an outdated & ineffectual Affiliate Agreement. These issues with the affiliate agreement were raised by other affiliates throughout Canada and impact all Habitat affiliates in Canada,鈥� stated the release.

Key to the negotiations was 鈥渟ignificant underfunding鈥� to local housing programs, reads the release.

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Miller said the announcement has no impact on the car raffle in Kamloops/Salmon Arm and the draw will still take place this Saturday, Oct. 15.

He said there is no impact on the ReStore in Salmon Arm other than to remove the Habitat logo; the store will continue to operate as the Salmon Arm ReStore.

Miller also said there is no impact on housing developments as the renamed organization will continue to develop and deliver attainable housing 鈥� 鈥渘ow with much more freedom, flexibility, and opportunities鈥︹��

The former Habitat for Humanity Kamloops has recently been working on housing developments in Salmon Arm, Sorrento and Sicamous.

鈥淩egardless of the capricious action by Habitat Canada, we remain committed to our communities. We will continue to develop attainable housing projects, throughout the regions we serve, and provide support to all families currently under our wings 鈥� albeit under a new name,鈥� said the Habitat Kamloops society.

Habitat for Humanity Kamloops has been operating in Kamloops, Princeton, Lytton, Lillooet, Merritt, Prince George, McBride, Lumby, Chase, Enderby, Armstrong, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Sorrento, Cache Creek, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House, Quesnel and Revelstoke.

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