Release #339-00

 

Contact:	Sunny Mindel/Curt Ritter (212) 788-2958
	Mary Pat Holtgrieve 718-246-565 (Habitat for Humanity)

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and former President Jimmy Carter today celebrated Habitat for Humanity's Jimmy Carter Work Project 2000 (JCWP 2000), which began yesterday, Sunday, September 10th, and concludes this Friday, September 15th. This annual week-long event, which began in New York City in 1984, is designed to promote Habitat's ongoing efforts to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world.

At today's celebrations, Mayor Giuliani presented President Carter with a proclamation declaring September 10th - September 15th Habitat for Humanity/ Jimmy Carter Work Project 2000 Week in New York City. The Mayor and President Carter also announced the completion of Habitat for Humanity's 100,000th home, which is located at 233 West 134th Street in Harlem.

"The Jimmy Carter Work Project 2000 is great news for New York City families," said Mayor Giuliani. "Last year President Carter and I announced that Habitat for Humanity would complete construction on its 100,000th home right here in Harlem, and today I'm proud to announce that, thanks to the hard work of Habitat for Humanity volunteers, we have been able to achieve this goal.

"In addition to completing this home, this week more than 1,500 volunteers from Habitat for Humanity will put in hundreds of hours of their time to complete construction of 20 additional new homes throughout the City, allowing many families to own a home for the very first time. I want to thank President and Mrs. Carter, Jack Kemp and everyone at Habitat for Humanity for their ongoing efforts to provide affordable housing for families in New York City, and for thousands of families around the world," the Mayor concluded.

During JCWP 2000, Habitat for Humanity will complete construction or rehabilitation of another 19 homes in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and Central Harlem in Manhattan

President Jimmy Carter said, "Rosalynn and I are proud to work one week each year side-by-side with other volunteers and the families who will realize their dreams of home ownership."

Since 1994 the City, through the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, has helped more than 11,700 families become homeowners through various City homeownership programs. The Building Blocks initiative has returned more than 21,500 City-owned units to responsible private ownership - to not-for-profit organizations, locally based real estate companies and, in some cases, to the tenants themselves. At the same time, the City provides owners with low-interest loans to encourage them to make their buildings as safe, viable, and hospitable as possible. In addition, over the next four years the City plans to increase its commitment to these programs from $35 million to nearly $74 million.

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development has worked with Habitat - New York City and Habitat - Staten Island to provide City-owned sites for one dollar per lot. Habitat then secures funding for the rehabilitation and construction of these properties through corporations, foundations, and direct appeal to individuals.

Since its founding in 1976, Habitat for Humanity has constructed more than 90,000 homes for more than 400,000 people worldwide. Habitat for Humanity -New York City was founded in 1984 and, over the last 15 years, has completed 71 units in Harlem, Manhattan; Sunset Park, Brooklyn; and Jamaica, Queens, both by building new homes and by doing the equally valuable work of rehabilitating vacant buildings. Since 1991 Habitat has expanded its efforts to include rehab sites in Central Harlem, South Jamaica, and the South Bronx, and the new construction of small homes in South Jamaica and the South Bronx.

Roland Lewis, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity - New York City, said, "Habitat for Humanity - New York City brings together thousands of volunteers across race and ethnic lines. This year, New York City is blessed once again by the presence of President and Mrs. Carter, who are continuing their personal commitment to affordable housing which began in 1984 on the Lower East Side."

The Mayor and President Carter were also joined by Jack Kemp, Global Chairman for Habitat's More Than Houses Campaign; Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields; Millard Fuller, Founder and President of Habitat for Humanity International; Dennis Bender, Senior Vice President of Habitat for Humanity International; Jerilyn Perine, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development; and Roland Lewis, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity - New York City, for today's announcement in Harlem.