Habitat for Humanity may build home in Erin; meeting set for Oct. 26

Spurred on by successes in other Wellington County municipalities, Habitat for Humanity officials hope to bring a new project to Erin.

“I think we’ve been very strong in the small communities,” said Diane Nelson, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Wellington County (HHWC).

She recently explained to council there are 72 Habitat for Humanity chapters across the country and the organization first came to Wellington County in 2000. Since that time HHWC has built 14 homes in the county and Guelph.

Nelson noted the organization requires “a spark” to come to a new area, which Erin District High School teacher Jeff Weddig recently provided in the form of a request for an Erin project.

Weddig said community spirit has been growing at the school in recent years and eight or nine staff members at the school, motivated partly by the local discrepancy in family incomes, are interested in taking part.

He added principal Julie Prendergast is on board with the idea and told council “we need several things from the town,” including:

– its approval of the idea;

– a piece of land on which to build the house; and

– a partnership under which  the town would share lot costs with HHWC, waive building permit costs and help organizers seek out companies for certain jobs.

“I think it would be a great thing for the community and a great thing for the students to be involved with,” Wedding told council.

Councillor Josie Winter­singer asked how HHWC decides who receives the homes. Nelson replied a committee (with no local members) de­cides after three or four in­ter­views based on a set of national guidelines.

The recipient must:

– have an obvious need for the home;

– be able to pay a mortgage;

– be willing to partner with the organization and help provide 500 hours of “sweat equity;” and

– accept that the process will be made public (through the media).

“Sounds good, sounds interesting,” Mayor Rod Finnie said, adding the town looks forward to the possibilities and to a closer working relationship with HHWC in the future.

Weddig said organizers are holding a public meeting at 7pm on Oct. 26 in the theatre at Centre 2000. They are hoping to get feedback from the community, and more importantly, to sign up volunteers for the committee.

 

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