Social activist welcomes military houses

The federal government is giving away empty military houses to help create affordable housing.

Fifteen homes in St. John's and four in Gander are being transferred to the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corp. and several non-profit organizations.

The organization that runs Emmanuel House in St. John's will get one of the houses. "It's certainly been a great program," says executive director Jocelyn Green. She calls it a "tangible way to make good, high quality affordable housing available."

Mary Marshall of NLHC says two of the homes in Gander may be renovated for tenants with accessibility needs.

Another 10 Department of National Defence homes could be added to the list. As well, non-profit organizations on the Burin Peninsula and in western Newfoundland have applied for several surplus federal government houses in those areas.