An open meeting to discuss an initiative to engage people in the process of building their own homes, will take place in the city this weekend.
The event being organised by Galway City Partnership will be held at Dóchas don Óige, Unit 5, Liosban Industrial Estate, Tuam Road H91 V20H on Saturday February 23 at 1pm. ‘Hope and Homes’ is an initiative of Galway City Partnership that aims to engage people in the process of building their own homes. People will be involved in the construction of their own homes while sharing and learning crafts and skills that will be useful both now and into the future.
Since 2011 Galway City Partnership in conjunction with the Tús Initiative has seen firsthand the skills and resourcefulness of people through its work supporting agencies who work with families and individuals experiencing difficulties and poor living conditions in the city.
The generosity of spirit demonstrated by people and the way they support and complement each other in their daily tasks has awakened all to the reality of the power that’s evident in this amazing resource - ‘People Helping People’
“Last year, we came together to find a way to address the housing crisis. We quickly realised that the current housing system was a major part of the problem so we started looking for alternative answers,” a spokesperson said.
“In the UK we saw Community-Led Housing initiatives that are able to provide affordable housing for a wide variety of people. Across Europe, Community Land Trusts projects ensure permanent affordability through community ownership and management.
“Across the world, from the US to Africa, there is growing recognition that the community has to be at the heart of the solution. We live in a country that has helped build the world. From skyscrapers in New York to motorways in the UK, we have had a part in building it all. In recent years the success of the Niall Mellon Trust and similar projects has seen us help solve housing problems around the world.
“The involvement of communities and potential residents in the construction and design of their homes fosters community spirit which will outlast any short term benefit. “Hope and Homes” will focus on the security and wellbeing that living in an active community offers,” the spokesperson said.
They went on to say that bringing this project to fruition will require a full range of skills, most importantly an open mind and a willingness to work with others to address this problem once and for all.
“Solving our housing problems is not beyond us. This is too important to wait for someone else to find the solution.” they concluded.
