CLEVELAND – The Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity launched an aggressive plan that hopes to place 12 needy families in renovated homes by the end of the year.
With the help of the Cuyahoga Land Bank, habitat has been in the process of acquiring vacant houses on both Colfax Road in the lower Kinsman neighborhood, and Clement Avenue in Slavic Village, on the city’s south side.
Habitat hopes to renovate six houses on each street, working to economically rehab the homes into safe, quality and affordable housing for lower-income families.
Cleveland City Council members Tony Brancatelli and Phyllis Cleveland, along with Mayor Frank G. Jackson, are collaborating with the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity.
Cleveland City Council committed $50,000 to help fund the massive project.
“We are proud to have the support of the mayor, city council, and Slavic Village, and Burton Bell Carr Development Corporations,” said habitat executive director John Habat. “Rather than just building homes, we are now focused on building sustainable communities.”
Work to rehabilitate vacant houses on Colfax Road will begin on April 12, and NewsChannel5 volunteers will help with the effort through the Building Better Neighborhoods initiative.
NewsChannel5 will provide day-long coverage of the event with live broadcasts on Good Morning Cleveland, noon, 5, 6, and 11 p.m. newscasts.
Jackson applauded Habitat for Humanity for its effort in resurrecting vacant homes, and getting them occupied by anchor families once again.
“This project provides for home ownership for a population that may not have had the opportunity to get conventional financing,” Jackson said.
SOURCE: NewsNet5.com
