Helm and Habitat NI Shack Attack

Helm is teaming up with colleagues in the housing sector to help Ã?¢??slum it to nail poverty housingÃ?¢?? in the developing world. And itÃ?¢??s all happening at the Sunflower Festival in Hillsborough this weekend. A team from Helm Housing Association will be joined by staff from the Housing Executive to take part in Habitat NIÃ?¢??s unique challenge event, the Shack Attack. The team will be tasked with building a shack from scrap materials and will sleep out overnight, experiencing some of the challenges faced by families living in poor housing every day in the developing world. The Chief Executive of Helm, Michael McDonnell said: Ã?¢??Helm is excited to be involved in such an innovative project as part of our continued partnership with Habitat for Humanity, and now in partnership with the Housing Executive. Ã?¢??This project not only highlights the necessity of the work of the social housing movement in Northern Ireland but also to see the value and importance of housing need beyond Northern Ireland.Ã?¢?Ã? There are 1.6 billion people in the developing world who do not have a decent place to live, with 20 people dying every minute from conditions related to poor housing, according to Habitat. The organisation serves a family in need every four minutes. The Shack Attack event takes place this Saturday and Sunday (August 1st and 2nd) during the four-day Sunflower Festival. If you want to get involved, check out www.habitatni.co.uk . To sign up to the two day event each team member must pay a Ã?Â?Ã?£60 deposit. This includes parking, a Shack Attack survival packs, meals during the event and a four day festival and stay pass. Maximum of six per team. Families are welcome. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.