Rotarians and partners from the Rotary Clubs of Elizabeth, Gawler, Gawler Light, Mawson Lakes, Modbury Golden Grove, Playford, Salisbury and Salisbury City Rotaract held a combined dinner meeting.
The meeting was organised and hosted by the Rotary Club of Modbury Golden Grove and the presidents of each club gave a brief report on their activities and projects.
Guest speaker Mark Hay stood in for his ailing wife Louise who is the CEO of Habitat for Humanity SA.
Habitat for Humanity SA builds, rehabilitates and repairs homes in sustainable communities with support from homeowner families, volunteers, donors and partner organisations.
Families and individuals in need of decent, affordable housing apply for homeownership with their local Habitat for Humanity. Each local Habitat’s family selection committee selects homeowners based on three criteria:
- The applicant’s level of need.
- Their willingness to partner with Habitat.
- Their ability to repay a mortgage through an affordable payment plan.
As part of their willingness to partner, Habitat’s homebuyers invest hundreds of hours of their own labour, called
sweat equity which is about doing the hard work to bring an idea to life by working alongside volunteers and other Habitat homeowners.
Habitat for Humanity follows a non-discriminatory policy of family selection.
In addition to building family homes, Habitat has built two ‘granny flat’ style, short-term accommodation units for homeless youth in Murray Bridge This project provides housing for four young people at a time. The “Brush with Kindness” programme supports families and individuals to remain safely in their homes by providing minor home repairs and landscaping while the “Bushfire Recovery and Resilience” programme assists families and communities impacted by the Cudlee Creek bushfires.
Habitat’s latest venture is their “ReStore” shop at 102 Port Road Alberton. “ReStore” sells new or restored items which have been donated by building companies, businesses and individuals. It has a wide selection of new and restored furniture, paving and plumbing materials, lighting and bathroom fixtures.
Report prepared by Brian Burt