Two HSH families 'home for the holidays' thanks to ARGO

Two Oakville families are ‘home’ for the holidays – and it’s a wish come true.

As we prepare for the holidays, we don’t realize how far typical seasonal activities are from the reality being experienced by some members of our own community. For those fleeing domestic violence for safety or others with just the clothes on their backs, the two worlds are so far apart wishes can’t bridge them.

This holiday however, two single moms in Home Suite Hope (HSH) programming get to call a brand-new townhouse in north Oakville  ‘home’ thanks to the generosity of Burlington-based ARGO Development Corp.

With the backing of HSH and support from others in the community, they will not only have a roof over their heads… but a cozy bed and a mother’s wish realized to provide not just a safe haven, but a home, for her children.

ARGO has built communities throughout Halton including Alton Village and Millcroft Greens, Orianna Glen, Bronte Green, Westoak Trails and Joshua Creek. It has supplied these two townhomes in north central Oakville to the HSH participants at reduced rental rates.

This generous builder also provided all window coverings and beds for the units and then topped it off with towels and $700 in gift cards.

The moms and their children are thrilled. One of the moms was coming straight out of homelessness. She has three children and is just starting her programming journey with HSH.

“This home means safety, stability, and a chance to grow. It’s a fresh chapter—a place where we can create new memories, strengthen our bond, and move forward with hope and confidence,” she said. “For me, it represents relief from constant stress and the opportunity to build routines and structure for my children. For my kids, this townhouse means having their own space, a consistent environment to learn and play, and a place where they can feel secure,” she added.

The other single parent – mom to a teen son and daughter - is well underway in HSH programming with the goal of working in the healthcare field. She and her children are ending this year on a high note as they also celebrated becoming Canadian citizens earlier this year.

“Foremost, I believe in God and this home signifies that God sees our innermost desires and answers prayers. My children and I have always desired a house. We have aways wondered when and how we would get the opportunity to move into one, but I had no clue on how that would be possible. Given my current income and financial situation, I did not foresee it happening anytime soon,” she said.

“When I got the news that a new townhouse unit has been assigned to me, it felt so unreal, too good to be true. I kept doubting the reality until I signed the lease agreement! It is so exciting for me and my children to be spending the holidays in a townhouse, coming from basements and two-bedroom apartments. It gives us a deeper sense of belonging and settlement in Canada. This comes in the same year – 2025 – that we became Canadian citizens,” she added.

Making families feel at home is what drove ARGO founder Gord Buck into the business. He founded ARGO in 1999 after running his own building company in western Canada and then bringing his vision to Toronto to focus on land development, his true passion. Gord launched ARGO based on the values of honesty, transparency, commitment to excellence and a desire to always do your best.

“At ARGO, we’ve always believed in supporting the communities we develop in. Oftentimes this means building parks before the first homeowner moves in, or donating to local recreation clubs and sports teams, hospitals and hospices. This initiative, however, is much more personal. Our founders, Gord and his wife Babette, were both raised by single moms,” said Adine Carter, ARGO’s Vice President Corporate Affairs.

“Many of our employees were raised by single moms or are/were single moms themselves. We know how hard this situation can be, and in today’s economy it’s nearly impossible to survive on one income. The moms we are supporting with this initiative have endured more than any woman should have to, and we want to do what we can to help them and their families achieve their dreams, with full and happy lives. We are honoured to partner with Home Suite Hope and make meaningful changes to families who live in our communities,” Adine continued.

ARGO is a family-driven firm with more than one generation of Bucks contributing to the team's success. It has built a wide portfolio of residential and commercial projects throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Its main focus is on the regions of Halton, Peel, and York, and it has been especially active in Oakville, Brampton, and Mississauga.

ARGO's path to success emphasizes complete communities that have access to employment, shopping, recreation, and connection to nature. An ARGO-built community is known to sport excellent amenities that support an enriched lifestyle. These include family-friendly parks and trails, nearby schools, commuter-focused transit stations, easy highway access, conveniently located shops and businesses, and much more.

ARGO is open to ideas that bring about positive change and stand upon the values of trust, perfection, vision, collaboration, and integrity. Fittingly, the company motto is ‘Building NewGround.’ With the company’s generosity and teamwork with HSH, they are doing just that.

“Our new partnership with ARGO Development has changed lives in ways that words can barely capture. By providing two beautiful, high-quality townhomes, ARGO has given two families — each rebuilding after domestic violence and homelessness — something they never thought possible again: a real home. These women have poured their hearts into rebuilding their futures, attending school, working, and solo-parenting, all while living in severely inadequate housing. One was raising a teen and an eight-year-old in a one-bedroom unit; another was sharing a single room with her three children. Today, they describe this opportunity as nothing short of a Christmas miracle. ARGO’s generosity hasn’t just opened doors — it has restored dignity, stability, and hope,” said Sara Cumming, Executive Director, Home Suite Hope.

HSH Caseworker Haley Weber, who counsels the two moms involved in this new partnership can attest to its impact already.

"Your generosity with these families, has had a profound impact. Securing these new, beautiful, and completely their own spaces has been transformative for these single-mother families, arriving just in time for the holidays. The impact extends far beyond the physical walls,” noted Haley.

“For mothers who have known the profound stress and instability of homelessness or precarious housing, this security is a foundation upon which they can finally rebuild. The mental and emotional load of constant survival mode begins to lift, freeing up bandwidth to focus on nurturing their children, planning for the future, and simply breathing. For the children, it means the profound gift of stability — a safe place to call home, a reliable space to do homework, and the joyous opportunity to create holiday memories in a space that is not temporary or shared. This housing is not just shelter; it is the first, crucial step toward healing, dignity, and the chance to thrive as a family unit," said Haley.

Happy Holidays to the single parents and their children in our program, to the generous people at ARGO for making this initiative a reality and for the always-present support of the Halton community… wishes do come true!

ARGO Units Before Move-in Day

ARGO Units After Move-In Day