Efforts Help Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia Build First Low-Income
LEED-certified Homes in Philadelphia; Metro Camden Habitat for Humanity
Rehabilitate Home
PHILADELPHIA, July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- GMAC Financial Services is
providing volunteers and financial support to two local Habitat for
Humanity affiliates to help build decent affordable housing for families in
Camden, N.J. and Philadelphia, including the first low-income,
LEED-certified homes in Philadelphia. During the course of the two builds,
approximately 100 volunteers representing GMAC Mortgage, a subsidiary of
GMAC's real estate finance group, will help build the homes.
Addressing both the growing need for affordable housing and the
development of green building, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia is
constructing Philadelphia's first low-income LEED-certified green homes, to
be sold through zero-interest mortgages to families in need. GMAC is one of
several sponsors, including GlaxoSmithKline, JP Morgan Chase, Nationwide,
USAIR, and the Patrick J. Monaghan Foundation, that are working to complete
seven three-story homes in the East Parkside neighborhood.
"Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia is dedicated to building quality and
affordable homes that benefit both the families and our community," said
Timothy Block, executive director for Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia.
"We believe that building green homes will make a positive impact on the
homeownership experience by providing continued affordable living through
the savings created through the use of energy efficient materials and
appliances. The project is also designed to demonstrate the ease and
affordability of incorporating environmentally friendly practices into
construction and thus encourage a change in building in Philadelphia in
general."
LEED-certified homes are built with innovative materials and systems
that save energy and reduce environmental impact, saving the homeowner
money in the long-run through the use of energy-efficient appliances and
building materials. Other benefits include reduced greenhouse gas emissions
and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins.
GMAC Mortgage associates will help Metro Camden Habitat for Humanity
build interior walls in a gutted row home for a local family in the Cooper
Plaza neighborhood of Camden City. Construction for the three-bedroom, one
and a half-bathroom house began in early May with demolition of the
existing interior structure and should be completed before Christmas. Other
Build Day sponsors in June that will be working on the same house, as well
as an adjacent house include American Water, Commerce Bank and United
Water.
"We are grateful for GMAC's continued support to team with Metro Camden
Habitat for Humanity to re-habilitate Camden City's neighborhoods," said
Doug Wagner, executive director for Metro Camden Habitat for Humanity.
"We salute the important work of Habitat for Humanity in creating safe,
decent and affordable housing," said John Gray, executive vice president of
Business to Consumer Lending for GMAC ResCap, the parent company of GMAC
Mortgage. "GMAC associates are active on behalf of Habitat because we
believe in supporting the communities where we live and work, and we know
that homeowners play a vital role in building safe, strong and healthy
communities."
Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the United States and
internationally are joining GMAC Financial Services and GMAC ResCap to
provide funding and more than 1,000 volunteers to help build 16 Habitat
homes in the United States, as well as additional homes in Canada, Mexico,
and Australia.
For more than 10 years, the financial and volunteer support offered by
GMAC has helped Habitat build and rehabilitate hundreds of homes.
Additionally, GMAC supports financial literacy and homeownership through
several activities including foreclosure prevention programs via GMAC
ResCap's HOPE for Homeowners initiative, the Homeownership Preservation
Foundation and financial literacy via SmartEdge by GMAC. For more
information on foreclosure prevention programs call 888-995-HOPE and for
more information on financial literacy go to http://www.SmartEdgebyGMAC.com.
About Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia
Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia is an ecumenical Christian ministry
that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating
poverty housing. Since 1984, Habitat has built more than 130 houses in
Philadelphia, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter with families
in need. For more information, visit http://www.habitatphiladelphia.org.
About Metro Camden Habitat for Humanity
Metro Camden Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical Christian ministry
that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating
poverty housing. Since 1986, Habitat has built more than 44 houses in
Camden City, N.J., providing simple, decent and affordable shelter with
families in need. For more information, visit http://www.habitatcamden.org
About GMAC Financial Services GMAC Financial Services is a global,
diversified financial services company that operates in approximately 40
countries in automotive finance, real estate finance, insurance and other
commercial businesses. GMAC was established in 1919 and currently employs
about 31,000 people worldwide. At Dec. 31, 2006, GMAC held more than $287
billion in assets and earned net income for 2006 of $2.1 billion on net
revenue of $18.2 billion. For more information, go to http://www.gmacfs.com.
GMAC ResCap is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of GMAC and a
leading real estate finance company, focused primarily on the residential
real estate market in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and
Latin America. For more information, go to http://www.gmacrescap.com.
SOURCE GMAC Financial Services
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.gmacrfc.com
http://www.habitatphiladelphia.org
http://www.habitatcamden.org
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/138832.html /
CONTACT:
Stephanie Thaw, Habitat for Humanity
Philadelphia, +1-215-765-6000 Ext. 22,
Stephaniet@habitatphiladelphia.org; Amy Simcik, Metro Camden
Habitat for Humanity, +1-856-963-8018, habitatamys@verizon.net;
or Jodi Ehlers Swanson, GMAC Media Relations, +1-952-857-7343,
jodi.ehlers@gmacrfc.com
|
