FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) - Two Alaska nonprofits are coming together to build affordable housing for homeless people.
The Fairbanks Rescue Mission and the Greater Fairbanks Area Habitat for Humanity are building simple 20 feet by 24 feet (6 meters by 7 meters) cabins, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports (https://bit.ly/2qjuLTv).
The groups are expecting missionaries to arrive this summer to help with construction.
With the extra hands, nonprofit officials predict four cabins will be finished this summer and another six will be ready next summer.
Rescue Mission Executive Director Rodney Gaskins has seen many people return to the homeless shelter because they spent too much of their income on rent.
The groups describe the upcoming Joshua Community Projects as a healthy, sober and encouraging setting. They plan to bring in support and mentoring groups such as Alcoholic Anonymous to help community residents stay on a path toward success.
“This is going to give them a much better opportunity to move forward in their life,” said Habitat for Humanity Transitional Leader Brian Roberts.
Their goal is to build 10 cabins and rent them to employed people in need of affordable housing. The rent money will be put toward building more cabin communities, Gaskins said. The groups plan to build a second Joshua Community in North Pole.
“It’s going to multiply,” Roberts said. “It’s not going to stop.”
Gaskins hopes to begin leasing out cabins in Fairbanks by the end of the year.
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Information from: Fairbanks (Alaska) Daily News-Miner, https://www.newsminer.com
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