Funding found for volunteer housing
By BENNIE SHALLBETTER
Bay St. Louis News Papers
Apr 18, 2007, 09:14
Some good news came in through the city of Waveland's Recovery Center yesterday. Employees and volunteers there received a long-awaited confirmation of funds from the Foundation for Community Partnerships in Centerville, Maryland. The organization has pledged $38,000 in funding to complete a project that will provide housing to 150 volunteers at the old Coast Salvage building on Hwy. 90.
Aldermen recently voted to halt work on the project until proper funding could be secured and paper work was in order. The funding from Community Partnerships should help move the project forward once again, said Betty Robinson, an employee at the center.
The money is specifically earmarked for the project by the group and will be used to buy supplies to complete the housing project. The volunteers themselves will supply the labor, Robinson said.
Some of the supplies that the money will buy are materials for 10 shower stalls, electrical supplies and lighting, an air conditioning unit for the main area of the building, kitchen equipment, internet access and limited office supplies, building materials and more. The building will be divided inside into cubicles to provide sleeping quarters and at least some privacy, though volunteers will be sleeping bunk style with several to a cubicle. Housing for the volunteers who come to help rebuild homes in the area has been in short supply. Organizers hope that the center will encourage more volunteer groups to come to the area by making it easier for them to remain close to their job sites.
