Once again, members of the Cape Breton University community have stepped out of the institution's halls and classrooms and into the streets of Cape Breton. CBU students and faculty have begun the necessary work that they hope will result in more affordable housing in Cape Breton and safer homes for those who would not normally be able to afford them.
To help achieve this goal, members of the CBU community have begun the push to form a local branch of Habitat for Humanity. Habitat is an organization that taps into volunteer labour, donations and a revolving fund derived from operations that provides affordable and safe housing to low-income residences and helps break the poverty cycle in which many people are living. Habitat has been tremendously successful in other areas, but for it to be a success in Cape Breton, local residences have to step up and show their commitment.
Some of us may have a hard time believing that there are those who cannot afford a home in the local housing market; however, according to the Halifax Coalition against Poverty, a single person on social assistance in Nova Scotia earns $5,422 per year ($12,473 below the poverty line). According to the provincial government, the average income in Cape Breton is below the provincial average and the number of homes in need of repair is above the provincial and national averages.
These figures mean that even though the housing marketing in Cape Breton is relatively affordable, there are many who are at risk because of poor living conditions.
"We are concerned that so many of our neighbours are currently living in very poor conditions and that the housing stock in many of our CBRM communities is not holding up well. Habitat for Humanity could be part of the solution," said Tasha Dunn a student involved in the movement.
Tapping the resources of the local community and identifying interested parties is the group's next step. Next Monday (that's June 16) there will be a Public Information Session to help them achieve this goal. The meeting will take place at 5:30 pm in room CE 265.
The need for a Habitat branch was identified by the CBRM Housing Revitalization Committee, a committee initiated by CBU, and on which there are representatives from all levels of government.
According to CBU professor Dr. Tom Urbaniak, a group of community studies students stepped forward to meet the need. Two students – Martin Osuru and Dayna MacKay – made a presentation about Habitat to the committee.
"The members were very impressed and were very grateful for what the students have been doing," said Urbaniak.
The situation for many living in Cape Breton is more urgent that we realize and all parties involved are hoping that things will begin to move quickly once the meeting is held next Monday.
CBU's students and faculty continually involve themselves in the community and, more importantly, involve themselves in ways that benefit the community and those in it. A Habitat project will change the lives of many Cape Breton residence who are in desperate need of help and it will also change the lives of those that volunteer. Habitat projects help transform the ways in which we are civically active and in doing so help us realize responsibilities that lay outside of ourselves and our immediate families. Ultimately Habitat creates homes, transforms individuals and creates stronger communities.
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