Scott Stanfield
Record staff
Habitat for Humanity is using a $10,000 grant from the Comox Valley Community Foundation to purchase a van that will support the ReStore and home-build projects in Courtenay and Campbell River.
The van, or “build vehicle,” will help alleviate some of the challenges of shuttling volunteers between Campbell River and the Comox Valley, says Pat McKenna, executive director of the Vancouver Island North branch.
Habitat is looking for a nine-passenger sight-seeing van, similar to a HandyDART vehicle.
“It’s also something that we can use in the community,” he said. “We’re trying to build a network of shared resources for non-profits.”
The vehicle could, for instance, be loaned to Vancouver Island MusicFest.
Habitat is close to purchasing a property at 1330 Lake Trail Rd. in Courtenay but first needs to work out some infrastructure questions.
“It’s a great piece of property,” McKenna said. “We’re always looking for free land of course, but we are in a position that we can purchase this property and move forward.”
Worldwide, Habitat for Humanity has provided homes to more than one million families. Its main goal is to break the cycle of poverty through home ownership.
Homeowners provide 500 hours of ‘sweat equity,’ a type of down payment that secures an interest-free mortgage.