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Wednesday, December 13, 2000 Move afoot to eliminate
poverty housing By JOHN HAYES From a blitz build in Jackson, Michigan, to a women's build in Scranton, Pennsylvania, home builders have turned out in force to help Habitat for Humanity International build decent, affordable housing in dozens of cities around the country this year. These projects and other Habitat benefit projects fundraisers, land donations and countless volunteer hours are all part of Home Builders Care 2000. Next year, the National Association of Home Builders will participate in Habitat's "The Houses The Senate Built" program, launched by a Senate resolution in honor of National Home Ownership Week 2000. The resolution calls on each Senator to work with his or her staff and family, local Habitat affiliates, homeowner families, volunteers and national sponsors to build at least one Habitat house in his or her home state. As a Building Partner in the program, along with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Mortgage Bankers Association, Council of Federal Home Loan Banks and the National Association of Realtors, NAHB celebrates its historic contributions to Habitat with financial assistance and the coordination of skilled labor and volunteer supervision to local builds. By the end of 2001, the program will provide homes for at least 102 families in need of a decent place to live. "Home builders are proud of their many contributions to Habitat projects over the years, and we're thrilled to join with our nation's Senators, their families and their staff to continue the work of eliminating poverty housing in the United States," said NAHB President Robert L. Mitchell on the occasion of the groundbreaking ceremony for the launch build the National Senators' Build in the Capitol Heights area of metropolitan Washington, D.C. "This is a fine example of builders doing what they do best to help less fortunate members of the community achieve the American dream." During the first week of March 2001, Senators will work beside Habitat homeowners, project sponsors and local volunteers to frame and raise the walls of two houses for the National Senators' Build. The Prince George's County Habitat for Humanity affiliate will manage the builds. The houses will continue to be built during the Spring with a dedication ceremony scheduled for National Home ownership Week 2001 in June. The National Senators' Build will be followed by projects around the country as the home-building industry joins with Senators, their staff and their families to eliminate poverty housing in the United States. NAHB joins Habitat for Humanity in thanking Sens. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.), John Ashcroft (D-Mo.), Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), Kent Conrad (R-N.D.), Bob Graham (D-Fla.) and Mary Landreau (D-La.), the original co-sponsors of the bill, for joining the effort to provide safe, decent, affordable housing for all Americans. For more than 24 years, Habitat for Humanity International has been at the forefront of turning the dream of owning a home into a reality. This September, Habitat built its 100,000th home, providing safe, decent housing for 400,000 people from around the world. Habitat is committed to build another 100,000 homes by 2005. "The Houses the Senate Built" program will help in reaching this goal. The Senators' participation encourages the participation of volunteers and sponsors and provides visibility for the issues of poverty housing and homelessness. NAHB's Home Builders Care program highlights more than forty Habitat projects this year, including a 100-home build in Jacksonville, Fla.; ten blitz-builds; all-women builds; and a dozen charitable donations to Habitat for Humanity International. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Mortgage Bankers Association, Council of Federal Home Loan Banks and the National Association of Realtors joined NAHB as building sponsors of "The Houses the Senate Built" program. Other sponsors include the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Corporation for National Service. (John Hayes, who is with Torrey Homes, is president of the Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia, which serves a membership of approximately 440 builders and associate members in Fayette, Coweta, Spalding, Heard and Meriwether Counties.)
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