Habitat for Humanity Joins Effort to Mark World Habitat Day

Habitat`s policy forum in Washington D.C. serves as an official kick-off event
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Habitat for Humanity joins the United Nations Human Settlements Programme
(UN-HABITAT), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the
Rockefeller Foundation to plan and host World Habitat Day activities on and
around Oct. 5.

"World Habitat Day is an opportunity to bring attention to the worldwide need
for decent and affordable housing," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for
Humanity International. "During World Habitat Day events, we join the many
organizations that are addressing the global crisis of poverty housing with
particular emphasis on the urban challenges in the world`s rapidly growing
cities."

Weeklong events will focus on housing issues. Habitat`s public policy forum,
which took place at the National Press Club, with support from the Rockefeller
Foundation, was selected as the first official event to commemorate World
Habitat Day.

The National Press Club event titled, "Whose American Dream: Moving toward a
Balanced Housing Policy," hosted a panel of leading experts exploring the
appropriate role of housing policy in meeting the needs of low-income families
and revitalizing neighborhoods.

Habitat for Humanity`s 2010 Shelter Report was discussed at the National Press
Club and is now available at www.habitat.org/gov. The report explores the
benefits of homeownership for low-income families.

According to the Shelter Report, research studies show that homeowner benefits
include better overall health and wealth accumulation, in addition to improved
work productivity. The sense of stability achieved through homeownership often
leads to improved performance in education among children and also can stabilize
neighborhoods, providing positive benefits to entire communities.

Other World Habitat Day events include:

* UN-HABITAT`s Scroll of Honour awards and a gala dinner in Washington, D.C.
* An academic panel event entitled "Housing After the Crash: Creating Better
Options for Our Future," hosted in partnership with Georgia Tech will take place
at the university`s College of Architecture at 4 p.m. EDT on Oct. 5, in Atlanta
* New Horizons Habitat in Americus, Ga., will join staff and visitors at Habitat
for Humanity`s Global Village and Discovery Center for presentations about
substandard housing
* Sussex County Habitat for Humanity in Delaware recognized World Habitat Day on
Saturday, Oct. 3 as volunteers united to build a home

Additional global World Habitat Day events hosted by Habitat for Humanity are
listed at www.habitat.org/gov.

The United Nations designated the first Monday of October as World Habitat Day
to remind the world of its collective responsibility to address substandard
housing.

Additional support for World Habitat Day is provided by Woodrow Wilson Centre,
Global Housing Foundation, CHF International, American Planners Association,
International Housing Coalition, the Urban Institute, USAID, Cities Alliance,
the World Bank, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Cooperative Housing
Foundation, the National Law Centre, and the Mortgage Bankers Association, among
others.

About Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that
welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty
housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built more than 300,000 houses
worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.5
million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org.

Habitat for Humanity
Arlene Corbin Lewis, 202-628-9171 Ext. 4945
acorbinlewis@habitat.org
www.habitat.org/newsroom
or
Jolanda Logan, 404-420-6766
jlogan@habitat.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009