Armed with an assortment of tools, volunteers and staff from Habitat for Humanity Northumberland are getting down to the work of salvaging materials from eight units at the Elgin Park redevelopment in Cobourg.
Due to COVID-19 concerns, a small team of four members of Habitat for Humanity Northumberland began the work yesterday of extracting such items as doors and cabinetry that will be eventually be repurposed and sold in the Cobourg ReStore outlet — Habitat for Humanity’s non-profit home improvement centre. They plan to be working this week during the first phase, but plan to return in a year’s time to do more salvage work.
The eight units at the Elgin Park site are slated for demolition to accommodate space for 20 new units due to be constructed by the end of 2022 as part of an affordable housing redevelopment project taken on by the Northumberland County Housing Corporation (NCHC). The project will increase subsidized and market rent housing at Elgin Park from 18 to 40 units, noted NCHC Board of Directors Chair Gil Brocanier, in a press release.
The project not only will provide more needed affordable housing in Northumberland, but will be beneficial in two additional ways, said Meaghan Macdonald, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Northumberland. The salvaged items will stock the shelves of the ReStore on Division Street in Cobourg and, once they’re sold, will provided needed funds for the non-profit organization’s home-building program. Also, and as important, all the materials taken out of the eight units will be diverted from landfill.
“It means a lot to us because any revenue generated through this is incredibly valuable for our programming. Everything we’re taking out of there is diverting tonnes from landfill, so it’s actually supporting the community in that way because it’s an environmentally conscious decision. We’re hoping that it’s a couple of thousand dollars that we’re able to generate for Habitat’s local programs,” said Macdonald.
For their part, the NCHC is happy to have Habitat for Humanity board as part of the redevelopment project at Elgin Park.
“We are glad to know that these materials will continue to go to excellent use, supporting families and affordable housing initiatives in Northumberland,” said Brocanier in the press release.
The Cobourg salvage project is not the only one Habitat for Humanity Northumberland has on the go in 2021, said Macdonald. She noted the organization is moving a house and renovating it in Cobourg as well as embarking on another move-and-remodel project on property in Bewdley. A new-build project is also slated for Hastings in the municipality of Trent Hills this year. As is the longtime rule with home ownership through Habitat for Humanity, prospective owners must play a large role in the building or renovation of the house.
Like all businesses and individuals, Habitat for Humanity Northumberland had its share of difficulties working through the COVID-19 pandemic, especially with its Cobourg ReStore closing for extended periods of time, said Macdonald. She said, however, it was the strength of staff, volunteers and the community that kept the organization moving forward.
“It was challenging, but due to the ability of our staff to go to online sales, government support programs for small businesses, all of those things along with an incredible group of volunteers and very patient group of future Habitat homeowners, partner families, as well as great leadership from our board of directors we’ve been able to continue. This community is incredibly generous and they’ve been there to support us…the minute the ReStore reopened they were there shopping. Truly it was the community that has brought us through,” said Macdonald.
