Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Friday, September 24, 1999

Release #364-99

Contact: Sunny Mindel/Curt Ritter 212-788-2958
Michael Crook 912-924-6935 (Habitat for Humanity)


MAYOR GIULIANI AND PRESIDENT CARTER LAUNCH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY'S JIMMY CARTER WORK PROJECT 2000

Announce Habitat For Humanity's 100,000th Home To Be Built In Harlem

20 New Homes To Be Constructed By Volunteers Throughout City

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and former President Jimmy Carter today launched Habitat for Humanity's Jimmy Carter Work Project 2000 (JCWP 2000), a week-long event scheduled for September 11 - 17, 2000, to promote Habitat's ongoing efforts to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world. During JCWP 2000 Habitat for Humanity will complete construction on Habitat for Humanity's 100,000th home at 233 West 134th Street in Harlem and construct or rehabilitate another 19 homes in Jamaica, Queens, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, Crotona Park in the Bronx and in Central Harlem.

"Today's announcement of Jimmy Carter Work Project 2000 is great news for New York City families," said Mayor Giuliani. "When JCWP 2000 begins next September 11th, more than 1,500 volunteers from Habitat for Humanity will put in hundreds of hours of their time to complete construction of 20 new homes throughout the City. This will allow many families to own a home for the very first time.

"I'm also proud to announce that New York City will be home to Habitat's 100,000th home and that during JCWP 2000 President Carter and his wife Rosalynn will return to New York City to complete its construction. I want to thank President 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.

Since 1994 the City, through the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, has helped nearly 10,000 families become homeowners through various City homeownership programs. The Building Blocks initiative has returned more than 20,000 City-owned buildings 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.

President Jimmy Carter said, "We are pleased to be here in Harlem today to announce our Habitat for Humanity work project for the year 2000. Next September, we will join with people in need to build 10 homes on 134th Street, and 10 others in Brooklyn, Queens and the South Bronx. Work begins today in preparation for the annual project that bears my name. I urge the people of New York City and its boroughs to support this project with your hands, hearts, and donations."

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. President Carter has issued a direct challenge to the New York City religious community to help raise $2.2 million to fund JCWP 2000.

Jack Kemp, Global Chairman for Habitat's More Than Houses Campaign, said, "Habitat for Humanity will build its 100,000th home in Harlem, and I can think of no better place to make history in the struggle to provide decent housing and homeownership for every family who needs it. While it took us 25 years to get to this milestone, the pace is building, and as our new More Than Houses Campaign succeeds, we will complete our next 100,000 homes in just five years."

Since its founding in 1976, Habitat for Humanity has constructed more than 75,000 homes for over 375,000 people worldwide. Habitat for Humanity -New York City was founded in 1984 and, over the last 15 years, has completed 55 units in Harlem, Manhattan, Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and Jamaica, Queens, both by building new homes and 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 is honored to be the host for the Jimmy Carter Work Project 2000. We are deeply grateful to our many public and private partners who have come together with the simple idea that no one should sleep without a secure roof over their heads each night. We look forward to working with Mayor Giuliani and New York City's other elected officials to make this event a great success."

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; Reverend Calvin Butts of the Abyssinian Baptist Church; and Habitat for Humanity - New York City Executive Director Roland Lewis, for today's announcement in Harlem.

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