By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Habitat For Humanity Northumberland is about to receive a donation from Northumberland County of a decommissioned ambulance.
As Deputy Chief of Operations for Northumberland Paramedics Keith Barrett reported to county council’s Community Health Committee at its March meeting, Habitat had made enquiries about this possibility recently, and their decommissioned 2018 ambulance could fill the bill.
This kind of donation has been made before, Barrett pointed out.
“Habitat For Humanity, as you know, is for building affordable homes for the vulnerable of our community, and to help those that require help in obtaining affordable housing, and we would like to do this in support of Habitat For Humanity,” he said.
Though only six years old, he continued, this vehicle is past its life as an emergency-response vehicle and has been decommissioned.
Committee member Brian Ostrander pointed out that there is a government exchange through which this vehicle can be sold, but Barrett said the result would only be $10,000 – which would then be split 50-50 with the province.
Fellow committee member Lucas Cleveland had one final question.
“I would like to confirm this ambulance will be used for transporting goods, and will not be turned into a tiny home or potentially a Buddy Bus 2.0,” Cleveland said, referring to the Port Hope initiative of taking a decommissioned 2004 municipal bus as a mobile warming room and emergency shelter.
“They will use it to help store tools and equipment, as well as help transport building supplies to the worksite,” Barrett replied.
