The positive response from Seaforth and area residents towards a Habitat for Humanity house has resulted in plans for a second, to be built next door to this year’s project perhaps as soon as two years from now, says Habitat for Humanity Huron’s executive director Kevin Morrison.
And, one of three new ReStores planned to be opened in Huron County after the success of the first ReStore in Goderich is going to open in Seaforth. “We’re been so pleased with the response from Seaforth and because of it we decided to buy the lot next door. It’s affordable and the same size as the first and we’re looking at building a similar house,” he says.
The second Seaforth build will not be done next year because Morrison says there are still communities in Huron County who need affordable housing but haven’t had a Habitat house located there yet. He says the Goderich ReStore, which sells recycled building materials to fund Habitat’s administrative costs and contribute to its building projects, has already outgrown the space donated by Giant Tiger on Highway 8 and is looking for a larger location.
A second ReStore is opening in May in Exeter at “a very high profile location” and two more ReStores are planned for Wingham in 2011 and Seaforth in 2012.
“The great thing about ReStores is they pay for all the expenses of the affiliate so you’re getting a great deal on building materials and all the profits after expenses go to building more houses. So, when you donate, 100 per cent of the donation goes to the builds,” says Morrison. As well, he says, communities who have built a Habitat house go through a sense of withdrawal after the project is complete and the opening of a ReStore allows volunteers to remain involved with the organization. “We call it Habitatitis and it’s contagious,” he laughs.
Morrison says that after conducting two months of research on Huron County before taking his job as executive director, he was impressed by the people of Seaforth and area and their strength and dedication to community was one of the reasons he took the job. “Seaforth has taken a beating at times but there is such dedication and stamina in the community. When I was visiting Seaforth, I was impressed by the strength of the people. People don’t give up in Seaforth. Seaforth has good leadership and good volunteers. And, Seaforth has embraced us (Habitat for Humanity),” he says. Morrison says that while Habitat for Humanity Huron is looking at moving into the direction of building duplexes, instead of single family dwellings, so that more affordable housing can be created in Huron County, the second Seaforth lot isn’t big enough to be a duplex.
“If we’re going to eliminate poverty housing in Huron County, we won’t do it with one house per year,” he says.
While Seaforth’s first Habitat house is being built this spring, the location of next year’s build has not been released yet. Morrison says the organization is still deciding between two communities. “We’ll be going towards building two to four houses a year within the next the next five years. That’s what I see and we do need it – we really do,” he says.
