Press Release

Habitat for Humanity Dedicates Two More Affordable Homes and a Community Park in Fullerton

Site will eventually include 11 Habitat homes

Santa Ana, CA, January 8, 2009--Two local families will receive the keys to their affordable new homes during a traditional Habitat for Humanity of Orange County dedication ceremony in Fullerton on Saturday, January 10, 2009, at 10 a.m.

Dedication of Habitat for Humanity of Orange County's third and fourth homes built in Fullerton, which are also the organization's 129th and 130th homes in Orange County.

Habitat for Humanity of Orange County families, donors and volunteers

411 and 415 W. Valencia Drive, Fullerton, CA 92832

Saturday, January 10, 2009, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

VISUALS

Laying on of hands by all attendees during neighborhood blessing.
Families receiving the keys to their new homes.
Families welcoming guests to their homes for the first time.

"We are very grateful to the city of Fullerton for partnering with us to build these affordable homes for and with two hardworking families," said Sharon Ellis, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. "These are our third and fourth Habitat homes in Fullerton, and our families are excited and anxious to get the keys to their new homes and become members of this wonderful community. We would like to thank our donors -- Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Thomas Cox Architects, GMAC-ditech, First Bank, George Hoag Family Foundation, Hands of Christ Lutheran partnership. State Street Foundation-IMS, OC Disciples of Christ (DOC), Union Bank, Archstone, Alcoa, Eaton Corp., Simpson Strong-Tie, California Bank and Trust, Centerline Capital and Mercedes-Benz -- for coming together to donate the funding and many of the volunteers to build these homes."

House keys will be presented to the Gomez and Vasquez families and the homes will be blessed during the January 10, 2009, dedication ceremony.

"I am very grateful for Habitat for Humanity of Orange County and for the donors and volunteers," said Catalina Gomez, Cal State Fullerton graduate and future Habitat homeowner. "Because of all of them, my dream of owning a home is coming true."

As part of Habitat's requirements for homeownership, these families had to prove legal residency in the United States, and meet income and credit requirements. They also were required to qualify for a home loan from Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, secure a down payment and participate in building the home with 500 hours of "sweat equity." The families will also pay a 1% down payment and a long term mortgage.

About Habitat for Humanity of Orange County

Celebrating 20 years of changing lives and changing communities in Orange County. 130 houses built in Orange County
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, headquartered in Santa Ana, CA, is dedicated to ending substandard housing and building strong communities in Orange County. Habitat uses non-government donations of funding, materials, professional services and volunteer labor to build simple, decent homes which are sold to qualified low-income families for a 1% down payment, closing costs, and a zero-interest mortgage. Mortgage payments are recycled to build more Habitat homes. Habitat families contribute 500 hours of "sweat equity" to the program by building their own home, helping another Habitat family build a home, or working in some other area of the Habitat organization. Habitat for Humanity families and volunteers have built 130 homes in Orange County since 1988, and are currently building eight homes in San Juan Capistrano.

27 homes to be built in San Juan Capistrano
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County’s Habitat for Heroes and Foundations for Families™ development of 27 homes at the end of Calle Rolando will be built in phases.  Framing for the first four homes began on July 2, 2008.  The second four homes were framed on October 3, 2008.  Funding for the land on which these homes are being built was donated by the City of San Juan Capistrano Redevelopment Agency.  Funds for building these homes have been generously donated by The HTN Foundation; Bank of America; the Orange County Realtors Partnership, which consists of the Orange County Association of REALTORS®, Laguna Board of REALTORS®, and Newport Beach Association of REALTORS®; an anonymous donor;  the Steve Tisch Foundation; Toshiba America Business Solutions; the Presbyterian Partnership; St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Dana Point; Hyundai Motor America; the Van Cleve Foundation; and more than a thousand other local donors.

300,000 houses built worldwide
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, an ecumenical Christian housing ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat International has built more than 300,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.5 million people. Habitat for Humanity International is currently the 16th largest homebuilder in the United States, according to Builder OnLine magazine.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, please call (714) 434-6200 extension 229 or visit our Web site at habitatoc.org.

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