Habitat project back on track after theft of tools

09/29/2006

BY VINCENT BALL
EXPOSITOR STAFF / BRANTFORD

Strong support from a lot of community-minded people has helped Habitat Brant recover from a major setback to build its latest home for a local family.

“Our construction trailer, the trailer where we keep all our tools, was broken into just before we were about to start construction,” said Kathy Poirier, of Habitat Brant. “All our tools were stolen and we had to replace them all so we could get going.”

Enough people heard about the problem so that Habitat Brant has been able to move forward with its latest project. The agency is building a two-level, 1,400-sqaure-foot home on Elgin Street, which will be turned over to a single mom and her eight children some time in November.

“One of the things that I’ve really learned in this job is the generosity of people in this community,” Poirier said. “It’s awesome. We’re getting help from a lot of people in a lot of different ways.”

Some people give their time, some their expertise and some in-kind assistance, while still others donate money, she said.

As a result, plans now call for the home to be finished by the end of October, just a little bit later than originally planned before the theft.

Elgin is a busy street and parking for workers and other volunteers was going to be a challenge. At least it was until Steve Charest and King & Benton stepped in to help.

SWEAT EQUITY

The company has been providing parking spaces for volunteers workers as well as more than 10,000 square feet of warehouse space in its Elgin Street building to Habitat Brant. As well, Habitat Brant is using some of the space for a food tent it sets up at every build for volunteers.

Skilled trades and other workers who volunteer their time are getting a healthy, hearty lunch everyday courtesy of local church groups and companies.

“Today it’s the St. Pius Catholic Women’s League that’s providing the lunch but we’ve had a different group or organizations come in every day,” Poirier said Thursday.

“The Tim Hortons at West and Dundas has been providing coffee everyday and we’ve had local religious leaders come by each morning for our devotional before we start work.”

Habitat Brant was incorportated in 1998 and built its first home in 1999. Since then, the organization has built seven homes in Brant.

Habitat for Humanity aims to break the cycle of poverty and build strong communities by helping people gain access to affordable and sustainable housing.

Each family that receives a home through Habitat contributes 500 hours of “sweat equity” in lieu of a down payment.