Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles Completes Six New Homes in Partnership with Kabbalah Centre Charitable Causes and the City of Downey

Home Dedication Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, October 24

Los Angeles, CA — October 20, 2017: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) is pleased to announce the completion of six new homes on Elm Vista in the city of Downey. On Tuesday, October 24, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, the Dorado, Gonzalez, Hernandez, Martinez, Moore, and Salazar families will celebrate the completion of their homes during a dedication ceremony. During the dedication, attendees will hear from Habitat LA staff, partners, sponsors and partner homeowners who worked side-by-side to bring this new community to life.

For these families, the journey to homeownership included training and classes through Habitat LA’s Family Investment Program, as well as completing 500 hours of sweat equity building their own home and the homes of other future homeowners. Each family will purchase their home with an affordable mortgage and is looking forward to building a better future in their new homes. This new Downey community, Pueblo de Luz, includes six, two-story townhomes each with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. All of these homes have several green features, including drought-tolerant landscaping, energy-efficient heating systems, insulation made from recycled content, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and solar-ready systems.

“We are so thrilled to welcome home these six families who have worked so hard to get here,” said Erin Rank, President & CEO, Habitat LA. “These homes will change their lives for generations and we thank our sponsors and volunteers for their support.”

This project would not have been possible without the support of the City of Downey who invested nearly $850,000 and donated the land to Partnership Housing, Habitat LA’s sister organization.

“Our City couldn’t be more proud to be part of a project that will change the lives of six very deserving families,” said Mayor Fernando Vasquez.  “Our sincere thank you to everyone involved in making the homebuyer dream come true for these families.”

The Kabbalah Centre Charitable Causes donated over $400,000 to build four of the six homes and volunteers from the Centre spent hundreds of hours working alongside the partner homeowners to help make their homes a reality.

“One of the most important spiritual principles we teach we at The Kabbalah Centre is giving back and sharing with people in need,” says Michael Berg, Director of Kabbalah Centre International. “The Kabbalah Centre is proud to work alongside Habitat LA to help bring decent housing to families in Downey.”

In addition to the Kabbalah Centre Charitable Causes and the City of Downey, this new community is thanks to the additional contributions of Partnership Housing, The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, The Home Depot, Nonesuch Records, Union Bank, and Warner Brothers Records as well as hundreds of volunteers who gave so generously of their time to build these homes over the last year. This project is part of Habitat LA’s Building a Greater Los Angeles campaign with a goal to invest $100 million by 2020 into revitalizing neighborhoods and increasing access to affordable homeownership opportunities. This investment will also help strengthen the local economy, creating healthier and more affordable homes for low-income families and individuals.

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. As the top nonprofit homebuilder in the greater Los Angeles area with five consecutive Charity Navigator 4-Star ratings, Habitat LA has partnered with volunteers, donors and Habitat homeowners to build, renovate and repair more than 1,300 homes locally and worldwide since 1990. The lives of thousands of individuals have been transformed as a result of having a decent and affordable place to call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes and pay an affordable mortgage. By supporting Habitat LA through volunteerism, donations and supporting affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the stability and self-reliance they need to build a better future. To learn more, visit habitatla.org.

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Contacts:
Yvonne Lara
Habitat LA
424-246-3187
ylara@habitatla.org

Angela Moore
Starfish P.R.
310-429-8868
angela@starfish-pr.com