NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Feb. 5, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- HomeAid, a leading national non-profit provider of housing for today's homeless, announced today that the organization has launched its 18th nationwide chapter, expanding into Tampa, Florida. Founded with the generous support of the Tampa Bay Builders Association (TBBA) and its members, the new chapter will be called HomeAid Tampa Bay and will build housing facilities for the community's temporarily homeless population to offer individuals and families a chance to get back on their feet and rebuild their lives.
According to Jeffry R. Ewing of Ladera Construction Group, who is president of the TBBA, there is a rising homelessness problem in the Tampa Bay area that is reaching a crisis level. "With the rate of homelessness in Hillsborough County climbing 70 percent since 2002 to give it the sixth highest homeless population in the United States, the members of our association wanted to give back to our community by doing what we do best: build housing," said Ewing. "HomeAid has a proven track record in communities across the United States in helping cope with this issue through building housing facilities for the temporarily homeless, and we are proud to join the organization's nationwide efforts to combat homelessness."
"According to research, more than 80 percent of homeless people lose their home due to an unforeseen life circumstance and want to get back on their feet; these temporarily homeless individuals and families merely need a place to rebuild their lives," said Genette Eaton, chief executive officer of HomeAid. "Through the generosity of builders and their trade partners who donate their time, expertise and resources, HomeAid Tampa Bay -- like our other chapters -- will multiply every dollar donated two- to three-fold, generating a high return on investment and more efficiently attacking the community's critical shortage of housing for temporarily homeless people."
Contributions from national partners played an important role in the founding of HomeAid Tampa Bay. The local division of Lennar Corporation already has agreed to be the builder captain managing all elements of construction on the chapter's first building project, which is currently in the planning stages.
"Across the country, Lennar is a strong supporter of HomeAid because we have seen -- through serving on other chapter boards and overseeing many building projects -- how well the organization's work can help solve a community's homeless problem," said Larry Peebles, regional vice president of Lennar and president of HomeAid Tampa Bay's board of directors.
Additionally, Bank of America continues to be an instrumental national partner, offering both financial and strategic support for the development of HomeAid's proprietary chapter expansion model, as well as helping to speed the multi-month process of bringing HomeAid Tampa Bay to the area. The model details the process whereby HomeAid works with local building industry associations, service providers and community leaders to form a chapter.
Pro-Build Holdings, Inc., the nation's largest supplier of building materials to professional contractors, also was instrumental through a $450,000 multi-year donation specifically for HomeAid to reach into new communities in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states to provide transitional housing for the temporarily homeless.
About HomeAid
HomeAid is a leading national non-profit provider of housing for today's homeless. Founded in 1989, the organization has built housing for more than 60,000 men, women and children. Established by the Building Industry Association of Southern California, an affiliate of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), HomeAid has completed more than 135 housing projects nationwide with another 58 projects currently in development. HomeAid includes a network of 18 chapters in 12 states and four offices in Newport Beach, CA (headquarters); Washington, D.C.; Augusta, GA; and New Orleans, LA (for hurricane rebuilding efforts). For more information about HomeAid, call 949-258-0850 or visit homeaid.org.
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