Finding land to build on big problem for Habitat
Published Saturday May 16th, 2009
Habitat for Humanity Fredericton Area Inc. is on the hunt for donated or discounted land in order to build another affordable house for a financially strapped family in the Fredericton area.
The non-profit, charitable organization helps low-income families invest in a home of their own by facilitating an interest-free mortgage and by rounding up donated materials and labour.
Homeowners who apply and are approved for a Habitat home must invest their own sweat equity into the project.
"One of the biggest challenges that we currently face is obtaining land to build new homes," said Dave Charleson, co-chairman of the site selection committee for the Fredericton group.
"Many people do not realize that Habitat also looks for private land and that donors will receive a tax receipt for the value of any land they may donate, or even for the difference between the market value and a discounted value that they may be willing to offer to Habitat," Charleson said.
Without access to a free or inexpensive property, the group may not be able to build a home in 2009. It aims to construct one house per year for a family in need.
The local chapter of the organization appealed to city council to assist with the donation of free or discounted land, but Mayor Brad Woodside has said the city won't give land away.
The city has a program for discounting land for multi-unit developments that include a subsidized or rent-reduced unit in the project.
Woodside has assigned the city's affordable housing committee to meet with Habitat, but they haven't gotten together yet, Charleson said.
"We've also had some discussions with Oromocto. They were a little more receptive there, but there's nothing immediately forthcoming. They've given us some suggestions," he said.
"We're still seeing what we can do to try to find something.
"At this point, we have no land to build in 2009."
Safe, affordable housing is needed for families to prosper and to break the cycle of poverty in Fredericton and surrounding areas, he said.
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