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FOR MORE INFRMATON, CONTACT SHANTE HANKS AT 203-332-5045

TO EDITORS: IF YOU USE THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE CONSIDER RUNNING IT UNDER THE FOLLOWING BYLINE. THE WRITER IS A JOURNALISM STUDENT AT HOUSATONIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE. NO COMPENSATION IS EXPECTED.

HCC STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN PROJECT HOPE

By Mike Russo

BRIDGEPORT –HCC students are making a difference by participating in Greater Bridgeport Area Colleges Care Friday April 1.

In response to the lack of space available in the shelters and the limited public housing in Bridgeport, student volunteers from HCC and other area colleges are participating in “Project Hope,” readying nine newly built duplexes to house 18 families in Bridgeport. The project is sponsored by Habitat for Humanity.

Project Hope is an effort to help address a national affordable housing shortage brought on by rising construction costs, decreasing wages, and the loss of millions of affordable housing projects during the past 20 years.

Habitat for Humanity has built more than 150,000 houses around the world providing more than 750,000 people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent affordable shelter.

In the past 15 years, Bridgeport has lost some 1,700 units of public housing. Some 1,300 families in Bridgeport are currently on a waiting list for public housing.

Project Hope will take place Friday, April 1 between 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. The 18 families will be there to meet and work along side the students. The day will wrap-up with a barbeque. GBACC T-shirts and transportation will be provided.

Vans will leave HCC at noon and return between 5:00- 5:30p.m. To sign up and get more information on volunteering contact Shante Hanks, HCC Director of Student Activities, at 332- 5045.

With an eight year old campus in the heart of Connecticut’s largest city, Housatonic is one of the country’s fastest growing public community colleges. Since it moved to the new downtown campus in 1997, Housatonic’s enrollment has increased 77 percent. According to the most recent statistics released by the Washington D.C.- based American Association of Community Colleges, Housatonic was the Northeast’s second fastest growing community college and its fastest growing in terms of full time students.

In response to increased enrollments and changing workplace needs both regionally and nationally, Housatonic has increased the number of programs offered from 43 to 63 since moving to its new campus.

The college is located in downtown Bridgeport one block from the Arena at Harbor Yard.

Mike Russo of Monroe is a journalism intern at Housatonic Community College.