Putnam County Habitat for Humanity of Indiana

Posted on Tuesday, February 07 @ 18:51:28 PST by adminjim

NAACP, Habitat partner in ‘Love Thy Neighbor’ to build homes

GULFPORT, Miss. (Feb. 6, 2006) – The historic community of Turkey Creek, home to descendants of freed slaves who settled there in the 1860s, today serves as the backdrop for another historic announcement – a collaboration between the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Habitat for Humanity International.

At the core of the announcement is a plan to build at least 25 new homes – and perhaps as many as 100 – with families affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, but there also is the strength of union, of building a bridge between the two organizations.

Habitat and the NAACP have such similar values and principles, that this is a natural partnership,” said Jonathan Reckford, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity International. “Both are committed to giving people a hand up, to social justice issues, to ensuring that everyone has equal access and opportunity, whether it is to housing or anything else.”

The collaboration – “Love Thy Neighbor” – is being announced as volunteers from the NAACP and Habitat are joined by NAACP President and CEO Bruce Gordon, Reckford and Habitat’s Operation Home Delivery senior vice president, Ken Meinert, to help raise walls on the first house to be built in Mississippi after Katrina roared ashore in late August of 2005. The fact that the first house is being built in the Turkey Creek Community simply makes the announcement even more significant, said Gordon.

“This is an area so rich in history, so rich in culture, and despite the fact that most of the homes here were flooded or suffered wind and tree damage, it’s a history that won’t yield,” said Gordon. “Homes that have been shelter and sanctuary for generations of the freemen who settled Turkey Creek still stand and today, we add another to their number. Soon, more will follow.”

According to the U.S. Census, about 85 percent of the people who live in the Turkey Creek Community are African-American. Most homes there are valued at less than $100,000 and the area has a median household income of $17,268.

“The NAACP Habitat partnership will play an integral role in the resurrection of these devastated communities,” Gordon added. “I am excited to be partnering with an organization that has done so much to provide decent affordable housing for families throughout the world.

“From the time Katrina struck, the NAACP’s goal has been to extend a helping hand to our brothers and sisters in their time of need. This is part of our effort to give the survivors hope and to help restore their sense of dignity and well-being.”

Twenty of the homes will be built in Gulfport , some of them in the historic Forest Heights community as well as Turkey Creek. Five homes will be built in Houston , Texas , with families that have relocated to that city following the hurricanes.

Forest Heights was developed some 30 years ago by the National Council of Negro Women, in cooperation with the Department of Housing and Urban Development with the support of the Ford Foundation. The development has been a model for communities in other parts of Mississippi and the United States .

The announcement is also the beginning of what Gordon and Reckford are counting on being a long-term relationship between the global nonprofit homebuilder and the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, not only in the hurricane-affected areas, but nationally and other opportunities where both organizations can partner to strengthen communities.

Through Jan. 31, Habitat’s Operation Home Delivery had built five homes and had work under way on 62 more. An additional 39 homes are under construction with hurricane-displaced families in Houston . Much of Operation Home Delivery’s early work has focused on acquiring buildable land and, to date, property for nearly 500 houses has been purchased. Habitat expects to build at least 1,000 homes with hurricane-affected families by mid-summer 2007.

About the NAACP
Founded in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its half-million adult and youth members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities and monitor equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International, based in Americus , Ga. , is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for one million people. www.habitat.org .