Transportation and Works
April 9, 2009The following is being
distributed at the request of the Newfoundland Labrador Housing:
Sod-Turning Marks Start of Cabot
Habitat and
Newfoundland Labrador Housing Build
The Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister Responsible for
Housing and Minister of Transportation and Works, offered his
congratulations today to Cabot Habitat on its sod turning for the
construction of a new accessible Cabot Habitat Home on Eastaff Street,
St. John�s. The event marked the official beginning of site work in
preparation for the build.
"While Housing has long been a partner with Cabot
Habitat, this year�s build is particularly special as the hope is to
construct a Cabot Habitat house from the ground up entirely with
Newfoundland Labrador Housing employees," said Minister Taylor. " I�m
looking forward to lending a hand at the official first weekend of the
build on May 9."
With a staff complement of nearly 400 province-wide,
Housing has a significant skilled labour force of plumbers,
electricians, carpenters, plasterers and painters, along with a vast
number of very willing volunteers who are ready to make this happen. T he
official build is scheduled to begin on Saturday, May 9, and the plan is
to turn the keys over and have the sponsor family living in their fully
accessible home by the last weekend in June. This Cabot Habitat build
will also receive $60,000 in assistance from the federal Housing Trust
Funds.
Newfoundland Labrador Housing has been a partner with
Cabot Habitat since 1994. Of the 31 families who have received Cabot
Habitat homes in the province so far, 18 families were chosen while they
were Housing tenants. In addition, over the years Housing has donated
land for approximately 11 homes throughout St. Johns�/Mount Pearl metro
area. In the past, Housing has provided Habitat with expertise in the
area of land development and housing, volunteers for the Habitat board,
meeting facilities for the first several years of Habitat�s existent and
skilled volunteer labour during the builds each year.
Cabot Habitat for Humanity believes in a world where
everyone has a safe and decent place to live. In Canada, approximately
1.7 million families live without adequate or affordable housing. Around
the world, over one billion people live in the streets or in poverty
housing. Cabot Habitat believes in trying to break the cycle of poverty
by mobilizing volunteers and community partners to build affordable
housing and promote homeownership.
- 30 -
Media contacts:
David Salter
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 699-7903
davidsalter@gov.nl.ca
|
Jenny Bowring
Communications Manager
Newfoundland Labrador Housing
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
|
Kevin Dormody
Chair, Public Relations
Cabot Habitat
709-722-4156
kfdormody@.nf.sympatico.ca |
|
2009 04 09
12:30 p.m.
|