BY EMMA WHITEN
As the CEO of Options Community Services, and Habitat Housing Society, Christine Mohr sees the impact that the inability to access affordable housing has on people’s sense of security and well-being. Christine is one of the leading forces behind the Women of Options Campaign, a life-changing initiative raising money for affordable housing units in Surrey, BC.
Christine has recently helped unite 50 local women in partnership with Options to spread awareness and raise an impressive $1.5 million in funding. All money raised will be put towards a new affordable housing project and community resources in the heart of Surrey. All 50 women, including Christine, have pledged to raise $25,000 in support of this project. The lack of affordable housing is currently one of the most significant issues in the community and has become a barrier to combating homelessness.
For many, being a mother means providing a secure foundation and home for your child. Christine believes that when people have the secure foundation of a safe and affordable home, it allows other things to fall into place. Every day, Christine and the team at Options see women struggling to find affordable and safe housing where they can live and raise their children. Often these mothers must make incredible sacrifices to raise their children.
Raised in Winnipeg as a young child, Christine’s mother and family chose to leave their immigrant family’s comfort and relocate to British Columbia. As an adult, Christine sees the sacrifice and loss in this choice for her mother, one that was made as she knew her daughter would one day move away. Although Christine feels sorry that her mother was in the position of making such a choice, she treasures the love behind such a difficult decision. When asked about her mother, Christine describes her as a strong, confident woman with deep integrity. Despite making choices in the interest of her children, she never sacrificed her personhood. She says her mother was always there for her, absolutely always.
On this Mother’s Day, Christine thanks her mother for the sacrifices she made and for truly living in the moment and appreciating life’s simple pleasures. Her mom was a straightforward person who was as devoted to her grandchildren as her daughter. Christine describes her mother as a true blessing and one that she can only hope to live up to as a mother and grandmother.
Today, Christine works to empower other women and mothers by improving their lives. The Women of the Options housing project will help house families and give them safety, resources, and a sense of belonging in a community.
The magic of Options Community Services is watching a group of people come together to help others for the greater good. To learn more about how you can support Christine Mohr’s partnership with the 50 Women of Options, please visit the Women of Options website.
