News Release

SACRAMENTO WORLD HABITAT DAY CELEBRATION
Community, Homeless Join to Build "Green" Home

FRESNO - This year, the United States will play host to World Habitat Day, an annual international event sponsored by the United Nations General Assembly to promote innovations in affordable housing and sustainable urban development. The U.S. is hosting the global celebration for the first time ever with several events planned in Washington, DC, across the country, and throughout the world.

Central California Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Bakersfield, Visalia, Fresno, and Modesto will celebrate World Habitat Day in the Valley by focusing on neighborhood revitalization through their "Rescued Homes" programs. Local affiliates have been purchasing and remodeling foreclosed homes, incorporating drought-tolerant landscaping techniques, and partnering with local utility companies to install photovoltaic systems in as many of these homes as possible. World Habitat Day provides an opportunity to engage youth groups, congregations, businesses, and service clubs in helping clean up neighborhoods in Redevelopment Areas across the San Joaquin Valley.

(See attached list for events, locations and times)

"This year’s theme, Planning our Urban Future, is an opportunity to bring attention to some of the most promising urban planning ideas being explored across the globe," said Shaun Donovan, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "It is an opportunity to create a platform for international partnership that helps make socially, environmentally and economically sustainable urban communities a reality for all of us."

Habitat for Humanity Golden Empire in Bakersfield, California, with more than 300 volunteers, begins a ten day construction of a three bedroom one bath home at the Kern County Fair. On Saturday, October 3 at noon, Habitat will open the doors to a new home to fairgoers who can walk through it. This is the 10th such home that Habitat for Humanity Golden Empire and Union Bank of California has built at the Kern County Fair. It will showcase Habitat for Humanity’s work to more than 400,000 fairgoers, and underscore the need for more affordable housing across Kern County. Volunteers who require special accommodations should contact Habitat for Humanity in advance.

Habitat for Humanity Tulare County will feature a community clean-up day targeting neighborhoods in Redevelopment Areas of North Visalia. Habitat for Humanity Tulare County has been purchasing and remodeling foreclosed homes, incorporating drought-tolerant landscaping techniques, and partnering with local utility companies to install photovoltaic systems in as many of these homes as possible.

Habitat for Humanity Stanislaus will begin renovations on six recently acquired foreclosed homes, and involve the whole community to improve the Airport Neighborhood in Modesto, California. This project will help the whole Airport Neighborhood become more involved with Habitat and provide them with sustainable, affordable Habitat homes.

Habitat for Humanity Fresno will feature the work being done to revitalize the historic Lowell/Jefferson neighborhood and encourage community involvement. Speakers include Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin, Council President Cynthia Sterling, HUD Fresno Director Rollie Smith and leaders of community organizations.

To learn more about World Habitat Day please go to:
www.hud.gov/whd/