Nine Habitat-NYC Families Receive Keys to New, Affordable Homes in Bedford-Stuyvesant...

Nine Habitat-NYC Families Receive Keys to New, Affordable Homes in
Bedford-Stuyvesant as Energy-Efficient 'Coffee Cup' Building Is Completed

BROOKLYN, New York, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nine New York City
families received the holiday gift of a lifetime today -- keys to their future
homes -- as Habitat for Humanity - New York City dedicated these affordable,
energy-efficient homes in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
"These new homes represent the best of New York City -- people from every
walk of life coming together to create decent, affordable homes for families
who need a hand up," said Josh Lockwood, Executive Director of Habitat-NYC.
"We are proud of the hard work of our nine homeowner families, who toiled
side-by-side with 4,000 dedicated volunteers to build the homes, and we are
grateful for the generous contributions of our many supporters."
"This Habitat home will help us live the American dream of having a home
of our own, so our children will have something in the future," said new
homeowner Tonya Cooper. Tonya, a bank teller, and her husband Sean Milan, who
works for a messenger service, currently live in a tiny apartment with their
four children.
"It's a thrill to see Habitat-NYC once again helping Brooklyn families
reach the 'promised land' of home ownership," said Brooklyn Borough President
Marty Markowitz.
"All of us at ISI take great pride in helping to build these homes on
Halsey Street, and we are excited for the hardworking families who will live
in them," said Ed Hyman, Chairman of ISI, which sponsored one of the homes.
These homes are among the first buildings in New York City constructed of
energy-efficient Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs), which resemble Styrofoam
coffee cups. Concrete is poured inside the forms, creating strong, airtight
walls.
The homes also feature energy-efficient appliances, light fixtures,
boilers and windows and sustainable, non-toxic building materials.
"With energy costs soaring, building green helps our low-income homeowners
save money on utility bills so they can afford other necessities," Lockwood
said.
Habitat-NYC transforms lives and our city by uniting all New Yorkers
around the cause of decent, affordable housing. With the help of an average of
10,000 volunteers every year, Habitat-NYC has built more than 170 affordable
homes in the five boroughs of New York City, www.habitatnyc.org.
Contact: Beverly Cheuvront, 212-991-4000 x 344, bcheuvront@habitatnyc.org
SOURCE Habitat for Humanity - New York City

Beverly Cheuvront, Habitat for Humanity - New York City, +1-212-991-4000 x
344, bcheuvront@habitatnyc.org