Partner Family Homeowners Received Keys During a Dedication Ceremony Saturday, Dec. 17

 Los Angeles, CA – Dec. 21, 2011: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (HFH GLA) celebrated the completion of the Keeler/Elliott Development, an eight-home neighborhood in the City of Burbank, on Saturday, Dec. 17. The homes have been built to the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED^® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards to ensure energy efficiency and affordability for the homeowners.

This project was made possible through a partnership with the City of Burbank, the Burbank Redevelopment Agency and the Burbank Housing Corporation. Lowe’s was the largest site sponsor of the Keeler/Elliott Development. A dedication ceremony was held on Saturday to bless the homes and present the keys to the homeowners. To qualify, the partner homeowners agreed to pay back a zero-interest mortgage and invested up to 500 hours of “sweat equity” building their homes.

“It’s been a pleasure to partner with this great city and our generous sponsors to be able to make the dream of homeownership a reality for these wonderful homeowner families just in time for the holidays,” said HFH GLA President and CEO Erin Rank.

The dedication event recognized partners, sponsors, volunteers and all those whose contributions made the building of the homes possible. Erin Rank led a program, with special guests including the Honorable Mayor Jess Talamantes of Burbank, Ruth Davidson-Guerra of the Burbank Redevelopment Agency and Ruth Martinez-Baenen of the Burbank Housing Corporation.  Attendees also heard from representatives from site sponsors, Lowe’s, The Walt Disney Company, Bernards and Celebrating Home before touring the homes and enjoying a light lunch, generously donated by El Pollo Loco.

Construction began in May 2011, with more than 5,200 volunteers building five days a week, which equates to more than 62,000 volunteer hours. The Keeler/Elliott Development includes a new two-story, five-unit building, a three-story duplex and one renovated two bedroom home that has been designated as the Centennial House. This name recognizes the city’s Centennial, as well as its involvement in the renovation of the single family home. There is approximately 1,400 square feet of common space featuring an open picnic/play area for the homeowners and their children.  Additionally, each of the homes has a two-car garage as well as two additional parking spaces per home.  These homes will receive LEED certification, which will help the partner homeowners save on energy costs. Los Angeles County remains one of the least affordable places to live with more than half of its residents living below the poverty level. By partnering with low-income families and individuals to build their homes, Habitat for Humanity is able to provide a hand up, not a hand out.

This is the first partnership between HFH GLA and the City of Burbank and this development is part of the City’s global vision for providing affordable housing while improving neighborhoods.

A proud Mayor Talamantes thanked everyone who had a hand in the construction of the Keeler/Elliott neighborhood, adding that, “The rehabilitation of the Centennial House was a true celebration of our city’s past, present and future that involved many local organizations, businesses, City of Burbank staff and citizens who contributed time and resources to the effort.”

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles is thrilled to congratulate these eight new partner homeowners on their achievements: Eliseo & Adriana Atayde, Bavlos Boutros, Mary Damiani, Marci Johnson, Sandra Leiva, Rosa Montes, Gustavo & Catalina Osorio and Christina Trinh.

The building of these homes would not be possible without the generous support of the following site sponsors: Lowe’s, The Walt Disney Company, Bernards and Celebrating Home.

 

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (HFH GLA) strives to eliminate substandard housing through advocacy, education and partnership with families and individuals in need to build simple, sustainable and affordable housing. Since 1990, HFH GLA has built and renovated more than 700 homes locally and worldwide, transforming the lives of hundreds of individuals. HFH GLA is a GuideStar® Valued Partner. For more information, please visit http://www.habitatla.org or call 310-323-4663. Visit our blog at http://buildingagreaterla.blogspot.com.

About Lowe’s

Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. The company’s signature education grant program, Lowe’s Toolbox for Education^®, has donated nearly $5 million in grants to K-12 public schools every year since its inception in 2006. Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers support local community projects and our national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross. In 2010, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.  To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility.

 

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Media Contacts:

Jo-An Turman

Habitat for Humanity GLA

424-246-3175

jturman@habitatla.org

Angela Moore

Starfish PR

310-429-8868

angela@starfish-pr.com

 

 

 

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