40 Knots Winery in Comox pledges to buy tiny home for the homeless

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A Comox Valley winery is living up to its commitment to three pillars of sustainability — environmental, economic and social — by donating $5,000 to Dawn to Dawn Action on Homelessness in the Comox Valley.

The donation represents 20-25 per cent of the cost of a new container home built as part of the We Can Shelter Project in conjunction with a local Rotary Club.

“Charlene Davis with Dawn to Dawn and Rotary began to tell me the success stories of people that they brought off the streets into these homes and what a change it was making to their life,” said Brenda Hetman-Craig, Owner of 40 Knots Winery. “We just wanted to be a part of it.”

READ MORE: Victoria council unanimously supports tiny-homes village near Royal Athletic Park

The concept of “tiny” or “container” homes has been catching on for a few years across Vancouver Island. From Victoria to Courtenay homeless people are finding themselves under a real roof for the first time in years.

“Dry and clean and safe and warm, that’s the objective,” said Charline Davis of Dawn to Dawn Action on Homelessness. “So we built this community so that they can be together but still be safe and apart from each other and have a place of their own.”

Six shipping containers have been turned into tiny homes so far.

40 Knots Winery credits its wine club members for getting it through the pandemic and now wants to pass along its good fortune to others less fortunate and challenges other local companies to do the same.

Each home costs about $22,000 and 40 Knots will keep donating until the seventh home is finished.

“Our strategic goals are aligned with the United Nations’s goals of sustainability and one of them is to end poverty and hunger and to make more sustainable communities so this is a perfect fit for us,” said Hetman-Craig.

The container homes in the Comox Valley are located at Maple Pool campground.

The latest count in the Comox Valley in 2020 recorded 135 people experiencing homelessness.

Dean StoltzDean Stoltz

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