The recovery manager in Merritt says he was happy to see the success of the Hell or High Water fundraiser, which has so far raised over a million dollars.
Speaking on NL Newsday, Greg Solecki, says every dollar will help.
“Those amounts are going to the specific cities and regions that we part of that fund disbursement,” he said. “Specifically in Merritt, it will go to the Rotary Club and go through their phased approach on how to redistribute that money and hopefully find its way to our housing projects.”
Solecki previously told NL News the City was waiting for the fundraiser before potentially starting to 3D print homes to get some people back home. If all goes well, that he is hoping to see some of that work to start to get underway by late April or early May
“[This could help] everywhere from possibly renting a printer, there could be some purchasing,” Solecki added.
“There are the other aspects of the rest of the work that needs to be done from the infrastructure to hook up to it, potentially it could even be for some sort of furnishings, but that would be up to Rotary.”
He notes Merritt will be working with non-profit organizations to see which people could be moved into new 3D printed homes.
“We wouldn’t restrict anything. Family size of course might be an issue for a 3D printed home but we have other options like the mobile homes that are coming,” he said. “Other affordable housing options where family size and need and insured, uninsured would all be taken into consideration for the placement.”
Meanwhile, Merritt CAO Sean Smith says his staff are keeping a close eye on the snowpack levels in the province as we head towards freshet season.
“I can say that because of the temporary works that are in place for most of the lowest lying regions on the Coldwater River, we’re in a better spot coming into freshet than we’ve been historically, but that being said, we’re not taking anything for granted,” Smith said, noting he knows Merrittonians are concerned, after they were all evacuated due to flooding in November.
Organizers of the Hell or High Water fundraiser are hoping to raise $2-million to help British Columbians affected by fires and floods last year. You can donate here.
