(WXYZ) — Many construction projects in metro Detroit have come to halt because of the Coronavirus. Companies have been forced to lay-off hundreds of hard working employees.
And some families, who thought they would be moving into homes, will not.
When you turn that key and walk through the door, that is when the house begins to become a home, a place to start traditions and a family.
But COVID-19 has stopped that dream for so many people.
“That has to stop to protect the public health, that makes a lot of sense, but it affects a lot of people,” says Michael Stoskopf, CEO of the Home Builders Association of South Eastern Michigan.
Construction companies have laid off scores of employees.
“If we get some help, we’ll hire our people back if they want to come back. I don’t want to lose them. You know, it took us a long time to get them,” says Nick Canzano, President of the Canzano Contracting Corporation in Livonia.
He has applied for financial assistance. but has not heard anything yet.
However, Stoskopf says there is a plan.
“To try to provide the governor a responsible, safe path. So that we can do construction, help the families achieve the stability that they want. But do it in a manner that is not going to prolong or aggravate the current COVID-19 crisis,” he says.
When you talk about COVID-19, there are so many stories. People have lost their lives, loved ones are mourning, people have lost their jobs, and some are in the middle of losing a dream.
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
Read our daily Coronavirus Live Blog for the latest updates and news on coronavirus.
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
Find out how you can help metro Detroit restaurants struggling during the pandemic.
See all of our Helping Each Other stories.
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.