Halifax not-for-profit at Engel & Völkers turning the dream of home ownership into reality for local families
A Home for Everyone (AHFE) began with a simple but powerful idea: end homelessness by creating pathways to sustainable home ownership. What started as a personal commitment more than two decades ago has grown into a not-for-profit society that raises funds, partners with community organizations, and helps families in Nova Scotia achieve the stability of owning their own home.
“In 2000, I was invited to attend an International Conference on Business and Consciousness in Acapulco,” recalls Brenda MacKenzie, Founder of A Home for Everyone. “One of the keynote speakers asked us what Heaven on Earth would be if we had a magic wand. My answer was ending homelessness. A Home for Everyone.”
In its early years, AHFE collected donations through real estate transactions, directing commissions to charities addressing homelessness in the Halifax area. Over 13 years, that effort raised $250,000. When Mackenzie joined Engel & Völkers in 2018, she brought the initiative with her, and it officially became a registered society.
Today, AHFE’s work has expanded far beyond fundraising. It now guides families through every step of the home ownership journey—providing down payment support, connecting them with community advocates, and ensuring long-term success after the purchase. “It is no longer about just raising money,” says MacKenzie. “The onus is on helping one family at a time into home ownership that they can sustain leading to generational home ownership for families.”
Since 2019, AHFE has helped three Nova Scotia families into homes—in Halifax, Yarmouth, and again in Halifax—and raised over $325,000 for its initiatives. In addition, in 2024, the organization contributed $38,200 to two local charities, Adsum House and Project Hope.
Support doesn’t end once the keys are handed over. AHFE’s model ensures that families continue to receive community-based assistance, from financial literacy to home maintenance. “It is extremely important that families we work with have ongoing support from a local community group,” says MacKenzie. “We choose the local community group and they present families for us to help. Then, once a home is secured, that community group assists the family into the future. It is one thing to provide funding and assistance to attain a property, and another thing to ensure long term success for the family once the purchase is completed.”
Real estate expertise has been central to the organization’s impact. Engel & Völkers advisors contribute commissions through the “Contribution at Closing” program, ensuring funds are raised daily across transactions. “Giving back to our community through A Home for Everyone is our passion,” says Donna Harding, Co-Owner, Licensed Partner, and Broker with Engel & Völkers Nova Scotia. “Who better to make a difference when it comes to assisting families with buying a home than a group of real estate professionals?”
Community partnerships are equally vital. AHFE works with local businesses, tradespeople, and service providers who donate time, funds, and expertise. From lawyers to contractors, volunteers play a direct role in making homes safe and welcoming. “Over the past five years we have had great outcomes due to help from both local business and community assistance,” says Harding. “Our goal is to increase awareness of our mission by spreading the word, hosting fundraising events, and finding homes for our next family.”
Among the many milestones, one stands out for MacKenzie. In 2021, AHFE placed its first family in a Halifax home. “An inspector and lawyer volunteered time and tradespeople did work at discounted rates,” she recalls. “Advisors helped get the home move-in ready. Neighbours brought gift baskets. We stood on the lawn with tears on our otherwise smiling faces. It was then I knew it was very real—that we did it, and we can do it again.”
That sense of possibility has only grown. In 2025, Engel & Völkers advisors launched the inaugural Hope in Motion relay, covering 365 kilometres and raising over $10,000 for AHFE. Plans are already underway to make it a yearly event.
Looking ahead, the organization is eager to connect with more community liaisons who can identify families in need and rally support around them. “No donation of money, time, or expertise is too small,” says Chris Harding, Chair of the Board for A Home for Everyone. “It truly takes a village to help one family at a time experience generational change through home ownership.”
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