This understanding of the challenges many people face led to Alex spending many years studying the intricacies of the global housing situation, which culminated in the publishing of his book, “The 22-Year Vacation, or The New Home Order,” in 2017. So when his siding company—built around a foundation of providing high-quality service with fair labour—became one of the fastest-growing in North America, Alex seized the chance to leverage his success to change the lives of those who needed it most. 

“With the success of Ideal Siding, my goal is to help others achieve what I have been able to experience, and ������ is there to help us realize that goal.”
– Alex Filipuk

Alex first became a ������ Ambassador in 2024, partnering with one of Ideal Siding’s largest suppliers, , to build a home for a family living in extreme poverty in one of Mexico’s poorest regions. A few months later, Ideal Siding funded another home with . One by one, they have given families a safe place to call home and the foundations for a better future. 

But that was just the beginning. 

This summer, Ideal Siding has created an innovative new way to make targeted social change in partnership with ������. When discussing their past contributions, Alex said, “I have found that we are stronger when we team up to make a difference.” This is the core of this incredible new program, in which part proceeds from every siding project will be donated to build a brand new Legacy Village. 

By engaging independent franchises across North America, Alex has fearlessly led his team to become agents of positive social impact, all while continuing to provide exceptional service and quality exteriors for their clients. It shows just how much people can do when we come together to make a difference. From business owners and employees to every Ideal Siding customer, every person involved—no matter how small—is a part of this legacy of change. 

“The homes ������ provides is not just about shelter; it’s about providing stability, and access to healthcare and education. Together, we can strengthen these pillars of social change to create sustainable generational impact.”
– Alex Filipuk

Drip by drip, every dollar contributed will help build a home for families currently living in unsafe conditions, many without access to clean water or adequate nutrition. The ripples they create will be felt forever, making generational change that will give these families the ability to lift themselves out of poverty and live a better, healthier, fuller life. 

Learn how you can get involved and help us build a home for everyone. 

Today, it’s built into the way they operate, with a that encourages employees to make a meaningful difference by volunteering or fundraising for a cause they believe in. And so with each new office that has opened across the country, FCT’s impact has been felt through the community as the entire team commits their time and efforts towards making the world a better place. 

This positive momentum comes straight from the top. FCT’s company-wide commitment to fight youth homelessness has led to strong community partnerships and dedicated philanthropy—two pillars that led FCT to partner with ������ in 2024. 

Through their first contribution in 2024, FCT helped transform the lives of young women who were living in extreme poverty in Zambia, without access to education or the resources they need to thrive. For the first time, these girls have a safe place to call home, with a roof overhead, access to clean water, and education that will change the trajectory of their lives. 

After seeing the impact their contribution had made, FCT doubled down this spring with another incredible $25,000 donation! With this contribution, five families currently living amongst sewege and trash will finally have the dignity and safety of a roof overhead, and take their first step towards the generational change that comes when you put housing first.

Every year, FCT gives back to both local and global communities through impact leadership and company-wide efforts to combat homelessness and support vulnerable youth around the world. We are honoured to have FCT as a ������ Ambassador and a partner in this mission. 

RentSpree, the leading U.S.-based rental software platform connecting renters, agents, and landlords, marked its 10-year anniversary this March with a renewed commitment to housing access and stability. The company announced a new partnership with ������ to help build safe homes for families in need around the world.

Operating at the center of the U.S. rental market, RentSpree sees every day how deeply housing impacts financial stability, mobility, and opportunity. As affordability pressures continue to shape the U.S. housing landscape, the company’s focus remains clear: making renting more transparent, efficient, and accessible for millions nationwide.

Co-founded by Michael Lucarelli and Paul Sirisuphang, RentSpree has grown into one of the country’s most widely used rental platforms. Today, the company supports millions of users and partners with MLSs and brokerages across the United States, powered by a global team of more than 130 employees in Seattle and Bangkok.

As RentSpree enters its second decade, it is broadening its impact. Through this partnership, the company will donate $0.10 to ������ for every property representative who signs up in 2026. Growth on the platform will directly support housing initiatives abroad.

Funds will help advance projects such as the Girls Safe House in Zambia, which provides 30 young women with safe shelter and access to education. The initiative aligns with RentSpree’s broader commitment to empowerment through its own programs, such as its women’s initiative called RENEW (Real Estate Network of Empowered Women).

������, a nonprofit headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, has built safe homes for more than 5,000 people across nine countries. Working with global NGO partners, the organization focuses on women and families experiencing extreme poverty, providing shelter alongside access to clean water, education, and healthcare. The ripple effect begins with safe housing and creates a foundation for long-term change.

“Housing stability changes the trajectory of a family’s future,” said Michael Lucarelli, CEO of RentSpree. “Our work in the U.S. centers on making the rental process more equitable in a challenging affordability environment. Partnering with ������ allows us to extend that same belief globally: that safe housing is foundational to opportunity and dignity.”

Guided by the conviction that shelter is fundamental, RentSpree and ������ are working together to expand access to safe housing and help build stronger communities.

We are proud and grateful to have Richard as Chair of ������’s Board of Directors. There are very few who cover as much ground as Richard, or touch as many people with his fierce determination to make this world a better place. From Latin roots, philanthropy means ‘love of humankind’… this is the perfect word to describe Richard! We see Richard as the rock, the guiding light, the steady rudder of the ship and wanted to share a little of his story to paint the picture of all he has accomplished.

Richard in action with ������

Richard Bell is founding partner of Bell Alliance LLP, a Vancouver based company he started in 2006. It is where he serves as an ‘estate lawyer’ and leads a team of 70+ lawyers, immigration consultants, paralegals and support staff at one of Vancouver’s largest firms specializing in real estate, business and corporate law, estate planning, estate management and probate, wills & trusts, and immigration. 

If being a full-time practising lawyer and business owner isn’t enough to keep you busy, Richard also finds time and is incredibly committed and involved in his family life. He is a father of two daughters, a grandfather, son and caregiver for his 97 year old mother, and dog parent to Cooper, who all live on their multi-generational compound in Vancouver. Despite having more than a full and busy life, Richard finds the time to volunteer his leadership, business acumen and unflappable energy actively involved in not one, but six different non-profit organizations.

The following are excerpts from nomination letters in support of Richard, to help give a glimpse into the life of this true philanthropist.

WORLD HOUSING ORGANIZATION

“Richard is a natural, empathetic leader who has played a vital role in expanding our mission. Under his leadership, ������ continues to provide homes for homeless individuals in Cambodia, Colombia, Africa, the Philippines, and Mexico. Equally important, Richard’s hands-on approach has helped us consistently raise donor funding to ensure that our work includes not only housing, but also critical support services such as education, nutrition, and healthcare. While it’s difficult to fully capture the depth of Richard’s passion and commitment in a single letter, I can say without hesitation that his contributions have led to measurable, lasting impact. Thousands of lives have been improved because of his vision, generosity, and leadership.” — Peter Dupuis, Co-Founder ������

ARTS CLUB THEATRE

Richard is a former Arts Club Board Chair as well as one of the founders and current members of the Arts Club’s Legacy Circle that formalized the Arts Club Planned Giving program and continues strong today. Richard inspires legacy giving to others and speaks on charitable giving at numerous public and business seminars. His personal estate plan includes the Arts Club and numerous of other charities. Richard doesn’t just donate time or money, he builds structures, literally and metaphorically, that uplift others. Whether through legacy fundraising at a leading arts institution, guiding nonprofits through complex transitions, or creating housing solutions that challenge the status quo, Richard brings vision and compassion to every endeavor. In honoring Richard Bell with the Outstanding Legacy Philanthropist Award, we recognize not only what he has done, but how he has done it—with humility, heart, and a tireless belief in the power of human connection. — Ruby Campbell, Arts Club Theatre

FAB – FIT ACTIVE BEAUTIFUL FOUNDATION

As a grassroots organization with no government funding, supporters like Richard help make
our programs possible—and sustainable. As a recurring donor, Richard’s annual gifts have
been a steady and dependable source of financial support. This consistency allows us to plan
more confidently, sustain programming, and focus on long-term impact rather than short-term
survival. His commitment over more than 15 years speaks volumes about his values and the
way he chooses to support community-based work. As someone who has personally known Richard for 25 years, I have had a front row seat to the endless ways he has and continues to strengthen community. He has had a personal hand in directing millions of dollars into the not-for-profit sector through his own contributions, fundraising efforts on behalf of organizations, and championing efforts to encourage his estate planning clients to give after they pass. It is not just one thing that he does that will have a lasting impact, it is truly who he is, what he believes and what he does every day that has created a legacy of giving that will benefit the world for decades to come. –Sharon Gallant, Founder

LATINCOUVER

I met Richard during the early years of Latincouver, when I was cold-calling organizations to share our vision. Out of hundreds of emails, Richard responded with genuine interest. He invited me to his office to learn more about our mission: to create a space that celebrates Latin American arts and culture while helping newcomers build community in Canada. In 2013, Richard became our first corporate sponsor – his support was a pivotal moment that gave me, as a new founder, the confidence to keep going. Beyond sponsorship, Richard has always shown up. He offered us meeting rooms and recording studios, which helped us establish credibility early on. As a lawyer, he’s also provided valuable legal advice over the years, without charge, during moments when we needed it most. Recently, Richard played a pivotal role in our first fundraising event, inspiring attendees to contribute and providing invaluable support throughout. Twelve years later, Richard remains a true friend of our organization. He supports not just with resources, but with heart. He empowers others to build sustainable change—he doesn’t just give the fish, he teaches how to fish. — Paola V Murrillo, Founder and Executive Director.

SMALL HOUSING BC

Richard Bell has been an outstanding colleague whose generous and openhearted manner has
deeply impacted me. From the beginning, he was an early supporter of Small Housing BC, the non-profit I founded to expand housing options on single lots in Vancouver. Recognizing the potential of this housing model to provide attainable homes for families across BC, Richard backed our startup with a personal grant. With encouragement, he later joined the board and has since played a leading role in shaping the organization’s growth. Today, Small Housing BC is a recognized force in progressive residential land use. Richard’s strategic thinking, creativity, and unwavering values continue to drive meaningful impact in the housing sector. He is a principled and deeply humane professional I greatly admire. — Jake Fry, Founder of Small Housing B.C. and Smallworks

PALS – ADULT SERVICES SOCIETY

I first met Richard in 2010 when his law firm Bell Alliance provided services and advice to families connected to PLAN (Planned Life Advocacy Network) in structuring and planning Wills & Trusts for their loved ones with disabilities. I was Executive Director of PLAN (Interim) and was impressed by his knowledge, candour, and particularly his generosity with his time. Rare for law firms, and so precious in the not-for-profit sector! Since then, the relationship has grown as he freely gives his time and expertise to the VPTG (Vancouver Parents Transition Group) for families planning to support their children with disabilities in adulthood and now PASS (PALS Adult Services Society) for adults living with autism. This latter includes funding though donations to PASS, and also helping us develop independent supported housing solutions for those with developmental disabilities. –John McCulloch, Chair

One of Richard’s favourite quotes, and words to live by!

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill

After her death, going back to school became a big challenge. My relatives even tried to force me into marriage, so that I could take care of my dad in his old age. They said it was the only way out, as I was the eldest in the family, but they wanted to trade my future for survival. At one point, they even brought a man to marry me, someone I didn’t know, someone I didn’t choose. I was terrified. My heart was broken.

I had to run away to my guidance teacher who introduced me to the Safe House. When I arrived at the Safe House, I was happily welcomed. I love it here; it is a very peaceful environment. It provides an opportunity for me to study and go to school. It gives me a chance to excel academically and provides the opportunity to learn a variety of life skills.

I have friends and mentors who can help me grow physically and emotionally. Not forgetting the various activities at the Safe House such as singing and dancing which I enjoy in my leisure time. I am very grateful to be at the Safe House, as I have an opportunity to fulfill my dream of getting distinctions and going to university one day and making something positive of my life.”

–R�Dz��𳾲�����, The Tilling House, Kapiri Mposhi, Zambia

������’s work, supported by generous donors and building partners, is a shining example of how providing homes can create a ripple effect, transforming lives and entire communities for the better.

Launching Monday, June 23rd, Caleb will debut a powerful video highlighting his recent visit to ������ Communities and Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) facilities. His film will offer an intimate look at life before and after families receive access to safe housing and education. This emotional story will serve as a rallying call to his millions of followers to donate whatever they can toward a $250,000 goal — the cost to build 50 homes at $5,000 per home that will shelter over 200 people. 

“This is about more than shelter. It’s about restoring dignity, opportunity, and a future,” said Caleb Simpson. “Everyone deserves a safe place to call home.”

������ holistic sustainability model for communities include a library, food gardens, playgrounds, and gathering spaces. The homes will be built in partnership with Cambodian Children’s Fund, ������’s longtime partner in Cambodia. ������ provides the homes and CCF provides comprehensive services to empower and elevate the lives of children and families living in poverty.

“All of us at ������ are incredibly excited to welcome Caleb as an Ambassador,” said Don McQuaid, Managing Director of ������. “His passion for storytelling and his commitment to giving back are a perfect match for our mission. This campaign has the power to inspire a global audience to take action and help build homes — and hope — for families who need it most.”

The homes will be built in partnership with Cambodian Children’s Fund, ������’s longtime partner for projects in Cambodia. They provide comprehensive services to empower children and families living in poverty in one of the most deprived areas of Cambodia.

CCF has partnered with ������ for over a decade, completing over 650 homes for vulnerable children and families in Steung Meanchey, Phnom Penh, centred around the city’s former garbage dump – once the largest and most notorious landfill sites in Southeast Asia. While the dumpsite closed in 2009, the area of Steung Meanchey remains home to destitute families living in squalid conditions with little hope.

“The partnership between CCF and ������ has been life-changing,” said Scott Neeson, Founder of Cambodian Children’s Fund. “By combining safe homes with access to education and healthcare, we’re creating the foundation for entire families to thrive — and this collaboration with Caleb will make that possible for even more people.”

All donations will go directly to the project through a dedicated campaign landing page that tracks real-time contributions. The campaign will be amplified through Caleb’s social media channels, including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Follow the campaign and help by making a donation:

YouTube: 

Instagram: 

TikTok: 

Facebook: 

Learn more or donate at: Caleb’s Fundraiser

������ ������
������ is a non-profit organization creating safe and sustainable communities for families living in extreme poverty. Built on the belief that everyone deserves a home, ������ provides not only shelter but access to education, healthcare, food security, and opportunity, transforming lives and building futures.

������ CCF
Cambodian Children’s Fund transforms the country’s most impoverished kids into tomorrow’s leaders by delivering education, family support, and community development programs into the heart of Cambodia’s most at-need communities. CCF believes that with the right education and support, one child has the potential to lift an entire family out of poverty and that a generation of educated children has the power to change a whole society.

According to the most recent data from Mexico’s National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (CONEVAL), Tulum, the new jewel of the Riviera Maya, is the municipality where tourism has seen the highest growth. Poverty has matched that, creating a scenario where there is inadequate housing for families currently living in the area and those migrating to work in this successful tourism industry.

The first phase of this 400-home master-planned ������ community will consist of 50 homes. In 2025, we will break ground and set the path forward for the coming years to build a holistic community in phases of 30 to 50 homes each. 

The homes will be cinder block designed to be long-standing, safe, and secure. The developers will work with the local community in a participatory design process to ensure the home design and layout fit the lifestyles of the families who will live there. The homes will be part of a community design that includes community gathering and garden spaces and access to local transportation routes and schools for the children of the community.

ABOUT BACALAR’S MANA88

Nestled in the lush jungles of Akumal, just 10 minutes from Tulum’s pristine beaches, Mana 88 offers the perfect balance for full-time living, seasonal escapes, and high-demand vacation rentals.This premier eco-development in the heart of Akumal, Mexico, offering a unique blend of luxury and sustainability. While developing this world-class development, Bacalar Developers are passionately committed to building a safe community for the families who live and work in Tulum area, and offering opportunities for the local economy, while creating a valuable connection with the people who visit the area.

In 2023, ������ recognized the need to build not just single-family homes for communities, but larger housing projects for children that provide educational access for them. The Girls’ Safe House is a new type of housing project for ������ where students can learn and grow in a safe and secure environment with proximity to schools, which is often the barrier, particularly for girls, to completing their education. As one of the key pillars of social change, access to education was essential for these girls to fulfill their true-life potential.

For their first project in Africa, ������, in partnership with Baraka Foundation, a local NGO with boots on the ground in Zambia, completed its first safe house to house 30 girls from the rural area of Kapiri–Mposhi district of Zambia. The project was primarily funded by The Canadian Tilling Foundation, with additional donors contributing the funds needed to complete all aspects of the house and also includes food gardens, and gated outdoor space. Additional ������ donors providing this generous support include the Morrison Family, Liz Bergey and Wayne deJong of Pillar to Post Vancouver, Tony Allard, and Mark and Laura Bailey of The Bailey Foundation.

Each room houses 4 girls for sleeping purposes and who have access to common areas for cooking, study, relaxation, and quiet time. As ������ prepares for its dedication ceremony, we heard about Lillian, one of the girls who was positively impacted by the new facility being built. Her previous dwelling where she lived with her father was located in a very rural area too far from schools, making it impossible to complete her education.

“The scenarios we found in the villages were very touching as the girls we selected hail from homes that are heavily hit by the current poverty situation,” shared Andrew Tembo of local NGO in Zambia. “As you drive close to their households, you will get to the point where you cannot control your tears from falling. The first indication is that there is no way a child could pass an exam in such situations, and secondly, it looked almost impossible that the girls would have continued with their education if we did not intervene.”

With the new ������ opportunity, Lillian can continue her education at the Baraka Learning Center. On May 19, 2024, the safe house will be dedicated and officially opened for the first thirty girls selected for the program.

Education is a vital building block for communities and the positive reverberations it can have on the lives of young people and their families is exponential. In Zambia, one of the most pressing challenges in rural education is the crucial housing shortage for teachers and their families.

������ plans to build a second safe house starting in 2024 due to the overwhelming need, and you can join their efforts on this project. For $3,000, a donor can provide housing for a girl. With any level of donation, you can support the ������ Girls Safe House projects and the many young women who will have access to the system over the next 30+years.

With your help, ������ can continue its work with the Baraka Community Partnerships to create a legacy for girls in Zambia to receive valuable education with a safe place to live. 

In 2024, despite the challenges faced by the nonprofit sector, ������ looks to broaden its impact with safe communities and homes being built for vulnerable families in Africa, South America, and Asia. We will break new ground in Pakistan, providing homes for at-risk women and their children and in Laos where we will provide housing for young girls to enable them to go to school and complete their education.

100% of all public donations made to ������ go to building homes for the world’s most vulnerable people.

Link to

Highlights:

Within the impact sector, nonprofit leaders are instrumental in advancing economic growth by offering essential services that catalyze economic activity. In 2023, the nonprofit sector faced several challenges and witnessed significant trends that shaped its operations and impact.

The sector experienced a , marking the first downward trend in donor dollars since 2012.

This reduction was attributed to economic conditions affecting major donors’ willingness to give, particularly in the fourth quarter of 2022​​.

 in giving showed varying patterns: Millennials, who made up 5 to 10% of donors, favored online donations, with a significant percentage attending fundraising events and engaging in crowdfunding campaigns.

Gen X donors, while fewer, were more likely to volunteer and start fundraising campaigns, with an average annual donation higher than that of Millennials.

Baby Boomers remained a dominant force, contributing 43% of all donations, with high participation in annual giving and volunteering.

The Silent Generation, though smaller in population, also made significant contributions, with 88% giving to charity​​.

The nonprofit industry , accounting for 5.6% of the GDP in 2022, translating into $1.4 trillion.

However, the sector also faced challenges, including a 10% decrease in the number of donors and 59% of people not volunteering in 2022.

Trust in nonprofits declined, with only 52% of the U.S. public trusting these organizations in 2023, a 7% decrease from 2020.

Additionally, the sector saw a decrease in public policy and advocacy activities, with only 31% of nonprofits engaging in advocacy or lobbying, a significant drop from previous decades​​.

Looking ahead to 2024, the nonprofit sector must navigate these challenges while harnessing new opportunities.

Adaptation to changing donor demographics, leveraging online and mobile giving platforms, and rebuilding trust through transparency and engagement will be critical.

Nonprofit leaders will play essential roles in guiding their organizations through these changes, making an impact on the world in 2024 and beyond.

������’s mission: a home for everyone.

At ������, we believe in housing first. A new home means a new start, the beginning of a life with safety, security and stability as a foundation. What grows from there is a restoration of dignity and hope for the future. Families begin to thrive, bringing up a new generation of healthy, educated, and inspired leaders for their community.

Our mission is to create lasting social change. ������ homes cause a ripple effect, and those ripples change lives.

Since 2013, ������ has housed over 5,000 people in 9 countries. This is accomplished through the guidance of our leadership team, and because of the ongoing support of our benefactors, ambassadors, and donors who rally around the belief that everyone deserves a home. ������ benefactors fund ������’s operating costs so that 100% of all donor contributions go to funding homes for families in need around the world.

If you would like to get involved with ������ please contact don@worldhousing.org

Finding a greater purpose

“I think back. I talk about it a bit in my book on how that was a turning point in my life where you look at where your purpose is, and that has a lot to do with my mindset of giving back … Each day is a blessing,” he says. “It gives you a higher purpose in life than just getting by. When you look at the blessings you have in your life, how do you give back, pay it forward, do some good, leave some legacy in this world before you check out.”

Susiwala is  and fulfilling his purpose as an ambassador with the ������ organization. Its mission is to provide homes to families, giving them the chance for a better life. The organization was introduced to him over a year ago through a developer he worked with. 

“They have a group of philanthropists that fund it so that 100 per cent of the money that they take in goes toward the need and the costs. Building homes in the Philippines. Building homes in Zambia. Building homes throughout the world where there is poverty and just basic housing isn’t available,” explains Susiwala.

“My life has been enhanced and changed as a result of being in the industry. Housing has done so much for me. It’s just a way of paying it forward for me.”

– Faisal Susiwala

For the full story link to the Real Estate Magazine article written March 2024.

To learn more about getting involved with ������ as an Ambassador please email don@worldhousing.org