UMaine Habitat Sleep-Out Adds Feb. 7 Concert to Schedule
Contact: Brenton Murray, 480-201-4678 or Tim Brauer, 203-414-6143
ORONO — Members of the Habitat for Humanity — UMaine Campus Chapter A — are sponsoring a concert Feb. 7 as a follow-up to the Feb. 2-4 sleep-out, when students at the University of Maine will camp out for three days in makeshift shanties on the university Mall to draw attention to local substandard housing.
As part of the “There’s Snow Place Like Home” project, students will camp out alongside sponsorship banners bearing the names of community sponsors joining the group in raising awareness about poverty and housing. Proceeds from the sponsorships will help build houses for local families in need.
“Maine winters are particularly harsh for people trapped in poverty housing,” says Brenton Murray, a spokesperson for the student group.
Murray says the poor economy is having “a terrible effect” on low-income families who rent because home ownership is out of reach.
“As many as two-thirds of all foreclosed units in New England in the last year housed renters,” says Murray, citing National Low Income Housing Coalition information.
A “Thaw to Awesome Music” concert is scheduled as a follow-up event on Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. at The Keith Anderson Building, 19 Bennoch Road in Orono. Local bands will include Hungarian Hot Wax, the Exclusive, Broken 45 & James Gilmore. There will be raffles for music, clothing and more. Tickets are $1 at the door, plus a donation of choice.
The Habitat for Humanity UMaine Campus Chapter is dedicated to eliminating poverty housing, and to making decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat for Humanity invites people of all backgrounds, races, religions and beliefs to build houses in partnership with families in need.