If you walk through the hallways at Clearspring Centre in Steinbach, it might resemble a book store this week. The East Borderland Community Housing group out of Sprague is holding a used book sale in an effort to raise money for seniors housing.

In 2012, fifteen elderly person housing suites for independent living were built. The goal now is to build a twenty bed personal care home. 

Chair Elsa Laing says the group has set an overall goal of raising $700,000. "Any capital projects that health gets involved with, the community has to come up with ten per cent," says Laing. "We have not been given a budget but we expect we will need to raise probably close to seven hundred thousand."

Laing says to date they have a $400,000 commitment from the RM of Piney, plus another $100,00 that they've fundraised on their own, plus a parcel of land. "We hope to raise close to fifty thousand this year but we'll have to see."

The book sale this week started Wednesday and wraps on Saturday. Laing says this is the 5th year for the sale and the goal is to raise $4,000. She notes in years past they've usually collected between $3,000 and $4,000.

Laing guesses there are at least 10,000 books up for sale. She says every last one has been donated. "It's wonderful the support of people that donate the books and then return and come and buy the books," says Laing. "We really appreciate the support."