Group wants to start a tool library for low-income families

by Amaris Bourdeau

Why buy an expensive tool when you only need it once? A group in Halifax believes a Tool Library is the solution. Photo UGardener

Having to deal with home repairs when you are not making a lot of money can be a big problem. To help lower the costs, a group of people are working hard to open a tool library for low-income families.

Neil Bailey, 31, says the tool library will give low-income families access to tools and home improvement equipment. Tools are expensive and Bailey says they aren’t always worth buying because they may only get used once. He believes the Halifax Tool Library is the solution.

“We’re going around Halifax asking people for their input so we have a better understanding of how we’re going to go move forward with this,” says Bailey.

The project’s members travel to public spaces like the Seaport Farmers’ Market every weekend. They bring a toolbox filled with some of the tools they would like to see in their library.

In the toolbox, you can find a map of Halifax. People can use the map to write down where they’d like the library to be located. This will help identify where the highest demand is.

The group is already collecting tools and working on a proposal to get government funding. Their plan is to buy more tools and rent a space for the tool library.

“We want to make sure we’re doing this right before we take the next step,” says Bailey.

If the funding doesn’t go through, the group isn’t giving up. They are already working on finding alternative ways to raise money.

Over 60 actions organized internationally in response to... Jan 12

GROUNDWIRE OCTOBER 8 | MMIW HEARINGS AND VIGILS, MASS... Oct 16

GroundWire | Housing in the Budget, Fontaine Boushie... Mar 16

Activist Court Support: Kinder Morgan wants permanent ban... Mar 15