28 September 2011

Hawke’s Bay prisoners progress house build for local family

Since 8 August, a team of six Hawke’s Bay prisoners have been ‘doing time’ constructing a four bedroom Habitat for Humanity house for the local Hungahunga-Repia family.

This is the first time in New Zealand that an entire house has been constructed ‘inside the wire’ of Hawke’s Bay Prison. Prisoners from the prison’s rehabilitation section are constructing the house from the ground up.

It is the eleventh home Habitat for Humanity Central North Island (CNI) has built for a Hawke’s Bay family and it is taking Habitat one step closer to reaching its ultimate goal: eliminating sub-standard housing in New Zealand.

The project has recently reached a major milestone after its start early August: the house is now completely closed in, with all windows and doors in place.

The building is specifically designed so it can be craned over the prison’s fence in two pieces on 8 November, after which the pieces will be transported to their final site in St Leonards, Hastings.

Habitat for Humanity has acquired the section in St Leonards under the Government’s Gateway scheme. This scheme gives housing providers, such as Habitat for Humanity, access to land on a deferred settlement basis.

Following the house being transferred to its permanent site, a team of local volunteers will join the two parts together and finish the house inside and out, including landscaping and fencing. The Hungahunga-Repia family will move into their home in early December.

“This Habitat build supports the community in more ways than one”, says General Manager of Habitat CNI, Nic Greene.

“It allows prisoners to give something back to the community by building a home for a local family in housing need. This benefits the local family and their community. At the same time, the project gives the prisoners, who are studying for a national certificate, an opportunity to get practical experience. This improves their chances of stable employment after being released,” explains Nic.

The Hungahunga-Repia family is very excited about moving into their Habitat home. The family consists of mum Sharne, a qualified chef, dad David, who works at a yard maintenance company and their three kids aged 16, 4 and 2.

The family has not yet seen their new home, and can’t wait to get a chance to visit the prison and see the progress. They are currently helping out in the Hastings ReStore, the local fundraising arm of Habitat for Humanity CNI, and will also be working on their home after the house has been moved to its permanent site.

ENDS

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