By Jackie Coleman
NEWCASTLE — Christians here are involved in two new housing projects for homeless people, Sister Carmel Hanson, a Catholic sister of St Joseph, told 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly recently.
Sr Carmel is vice-chairperson of the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, which was formed, she says, because of "concern over the housing crisis and a desire to put our faith into practical action". The group grew out of a meeting of the Newcastle Peace and Justice Network in 1990.
Habitat for Humanity is an international, non-profit Christian organisation which builds homes using volunteer labour and donations. The homes are sold at low cost to people in inadequate housing and unable to qualify for commercial loans. Buyers pay a deposit of $500 and make interest-free repayments over 20 years. The payments are used to fund construction or renovation of another house.
Buyers, their relatives and friends must also contribute 500 working hours towards the construction of the house. "The work requirement is essential to the Habitat philosophy and aims to give the eventual residents a sense of involvement in, and ownership of, the project", says Sr Carmel.
The multi-denominational Newcastle group is currently renovating an old house which was donated and moved to a site in the coalfields town of Kurri. A young family will shortly move in.
Sr Carmel is also involved in the House of Hospitality, another project making use of unused property. This is run by the Sisters of St Joseph with the assistance of a lay support community. It is located in the now disused living quarters of priests who taught at a nearby school.
The 10-bedroom building was vacant for several years until the local bishop allowed the sisters to use it. Donations and volunteer labour were used to repair the results of vandalism and a small fire.
The House of Hospitality is based on a similar project in the USA begun by Catholic social justice activist Dorothy Day. Sr Carmel regards the house as an "enabling place, where people can get on their feet before moving on to the next phase of their lives".
It may be used, for example, by a woman leaving an unsatisfactory domestic situation while she saves money for a flat, or by a person coming off an alcohol rehabilitation program.
People interested in either project may contact Sr Carmel on (049) 695 299.