Habitat for Humanity International and The Home Depot Foundation announce 2014 Repair Corps program

ATLANTA, January 16, 2014 /3BL Media/ – Habitat for Humanity International and The Home Depot® Foundation today announced Habitat’s 2014 Repair Corps program, an initiative funded by The Home Depot Foundation to help repair, renovate or construct homes in partnership with U.S. military veterans and their families. Up to 20 Habitat affiliates across the country will participate in Repair Corps this year, working alongside the veterans and their families to improve their homes.

Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has donated $6.2 million to fund Repair Corps, including $2.7 million in cash and in-kind gift cards for the 2014 program, which will provide safe housing to at least 180 veterans. Each participating Habitat affiliate will complete a minimum of five repair or construction projects with funding of up to $15,000 per property.

“Habitat for Humanity truly understands the needs and challenges homeowners face in the local communities it serves,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation. “We are proud to continue our partnership for the Repair Corps program to reach hundreds of veterans in need of critical home repairs as we work to achieve our mission to ensure every veteran has a safe place to call home.”

To date, Habitat’s Repair Corps program has partnered with more than 280 veteran families across the U.S. to improve their homes. Habitat grants for Repair Corps projects, supported by The Home Depot Foundation, range from new construction to home repair projects such as roofing and weather stripping to the installation of wheelchair ramps and modified bathrooms and doorways to accommodate disabled veterans.

More than 20 Habitat for Humanity affiliates gathered in Jacksonville, Fla., last week to discuss best practices for serving veterans and maximizing the funds and volunteer assistance from Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate-led volunteer force, to have the greatest impact.

“There are so many positives associated with the Repair Corps program. We are delighted to continue this partnership with The Home Depot Foundation,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “Being able to help veterans and their families with affordable housing solutions as well as to engage service men and women who have incredible skills and gifts to offer is a privilege for us at Habitat.” 

Funding for Habitat’s Repair Corps is part of a five-year, $80 million investment The Home Depot Foundation is making to multiple organizations to repair and renovate homes and public housing facilities for U.S. veterans.

Habitat affiliates in the following cities provide Repair Corps and other veteran services funded by The Home Depot Foundation:

• Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Bel Air, Md.
• Charlotte, N.C.
• Fairfield, Ala.
• Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Harrisburg, Penn.
• Houston
• Jonesboro, Ga.
• Lakeland, Fla.
• Los Angeles*
• Lower Lake, Calif.
• McHenry, Ill.
• Minneapolis-St. Paul*
• Mobile, Ala.
• Atlanta, Ga.*
• Oakland
• Omaha, Neb.
• Philadelphia
• Richmond, Va.
• Santa Clarita, Cailf.*
• St. Louis
• Tyler, Texas
• Waco, Texas

*Habitat for Humanity affiliates serving veterans with the generous support of The Home Depot Foundation independently from the Repair Corps program.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International's vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat has helped more than 4 million people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and supports a variety of funding models that enable families with limited resources to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer visit habitat.org.

About The Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation is dedicated to improving the homes of U.S. military veterans through financial and volunteer resources to help nonprofit organizations. The Foundation has pledged $80 million to these efforts over five years, and since 2011 has invested more than $63 million to ensure every veteran has a safe place to call home.

Through Team Depot, the company’s associate-led volunteer program, thousands of Home Depot associates volunteer their time and talents to positively transform neighborhoods and perform basic repairs and modifications to homes and facilities serving veterans with critical housing needs.

Since its formation in 2002, The Home Depot Foundation has granted more than $380 million to nonprofit organizations improving homes and lives in local communities. To learn more and see our associates in action, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org.

For more information, contact:

Habitat for Humanity International
Mollie Evans
(404) 962-3410
mevans@habitat.org

The Home Depot Foundation
Lisa Walsh
(770) 384-4281
lisa_walsh@homedepot.com