"World Habitat Day" Aims To Increase Affordable Housing & Improve Urban Planning Globally

    LOS ANGELES, CA, October 05, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Today, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (HFH GLA) is joining Habitat for Humanity affiliates around the world in observance of World Habitat Day. While a national ceremony in Washington D.C. takes place at the National Building Museum, closer to home, HFH GLA will highlight innovations in affordable and sustainable housing and celebrate the spirit of global volunteerism by showcasing exemplary stories on their build site and Building A Greater Los Angeles blog throughout the week.

"Habitat for Humanity embraces the 'Think Globally, Act locally' motto by raising funds and recruiting volunteers from Los Angeles and engaging them in local, as well as, international building," says Erin Rank, president/CEO of HFH GLA. "'World Habitat Day' reminds us that millions of our brothers and sisters around the world suffer from inadequate housing and that in many nations the right to own land is not shared among all citizens."

HFH GLA continues it work of building and renovating homes locally, recently breaking ground on a ten home neighborhood in Lynwood that is the city's first Green building project. HFH GLA is also actively buying and rehabbing foreclosures in areas hit hard by the housing crisis through their Neighborhood Stabilization Project. This week they will host "Lunch and Learn's" on their sites so volunteers can learn more about global housing challenges.

In addition to acting locally, HFH GLA is also acting nationally and globally. The organization has sent over $750,000 to other nations to build homes for families in need. This week, HFH GLA will send $80,000 to its Sri Lanka operation so 157 families in the coastal towns of Thuruchenthoor and Dutch Bar can finish building their homes, which were destroyed in the 2004 Tsunami. Restoring homes and buildings in these once flourishing tourist areas will rejuvenate two communities whose citizens depend on fishing, carpentry, welding and labor jobs to support their families.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF GREATER LOS ANGELES strives to eliminate poverty housing through advocacy, education and partnership with families in need to build simple, decent affordable housing. Since 1990, HFH GLA has built and renovated over 600 homes locally and worldwide, transforming the lives of hundreds of individuals. For more information, visit www.habitatla.org.

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