About two years ago, Community Work Party Supervisor Lance Te Patu found it hard to believe a house was going to be built on a steep, bush covered section in Porirua.
But 18 months later, Joe and Donna Munro and their six children will move into a brand new home thanks to the efforts of close to 1,000 offenders on Community Work sentences.
The project was part of the work of Habitat For Humanity - an international non-profit group that helps build houses for families that might otherwise struggle to get into their own home.
Community Work parties have been involved in building 10 such houses in the last 10 years in Porirua.
"This house for the Munros has been by far the most challenging build, with the steep slopes, dense bush and rubbish that had been dumped on the section," Lance says.
"Our first job was to remove the rubbish and 30 trailer loads later, we could begin on clearing the bush, which was a huge task. Bushes and trees had to be cut down and tree roots dug out by hand. It took six weeks to remove one especially tough root system alone."
Only after retaining walls were built using old tires could construction actually begin.
The Community Work parties then helped build the house alongside the many other volunteers and the family themselves.
Community Work parties have been at the house every day from Tuesday to Saturday since the project began and have taken pride in doing something positive for the family and the community, Lance says.
"It's community work to the max. We've brought in guys with no skills and we've given them skills."
Project manager Bob Stuart says the work of the Community Work parties on all 10 houses Habitat For Humanity has built in the area has been outstanding.
"A lot of the work was hard, physical labour but they tackled it with real enthusiasm and were glad to play a part in helping the family into a home," he says.
According to their website, Habitat For Humanity has helped build 250,000 houses around the world since being founded in 1976.
Families are required to put in at least 500 hours of work into the building of a house.
Once it is completed, an independent valuation is done and the family purchase the property for that price.
They are charged no interest on the amount and their repayments are capped at 30 per cent of their income.
Got a good story for Community Works or want to request the print edition
Email commdesk@corrections.govt.nz or phone (04) 460 3365
Got a story for Community Works or want to request the print edition?
Email commdesk@corrections.govt.nz or phone (04) 460 3365.
Community Works is published quarterly by the Department of Corrections. Contact details for Community Probation & Psychological Services can be found here or by looking under C for Corrections in the Government listings of the Telecom White Pages.
ISSN 1178-1327