Support comes as part of Esperanza’s Housing and Economic Development Home Repair Program, which helps low-income residents revitalize their neighborhood into a vibrant and safe place to live.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. PHILADELPHIA, PA – March 1, 2018. Esperanza will announce a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia to bring home repairs to the Hunting Park community in Northeast Philadelphia, a fast-growing neighborhood, quickly establishing itself as a gateway to Latino Philadelphia. With Habitat for Humanity playing the role of general contractor, Esperanza’s Housing and Economic Development (EHED)’s new program, the Building Hope Critical Home Repair Initiative will provide low-cost critical home repairs to 20 owner-occupied homes along the North 5th St corridor.
Esperanza is pleased to have PNC Bank sponsor the Home Repair Program, and will invest a total of $500,000 in the North 5th St. corridor thanks to generous support from FHLB of Pittsburgh.
“We’re excited to partner with Habitat for Humanity for the first time to provide our Hunting Park neighbors and homeowners the critical repairs their homes so desperately need,” said Rev. Luis Cortés Jr. President, Founder and CEO of Esperanza. “This is an opportunity for our organizations to join our efforts and help more Latino families preserve their current homes.”
The Rev. Luis Cortés Jr. will join Corinne O’Connell, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia Chief Executive Officer, sponsors and funders to make the partnership announcement on Monday, March 5, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at 4008 N. 5th Street, Philadelphia PA 19140. The event will feature opening remarks by the Rev. Luis Cortés and a testimony by first Home Repair Program resident Angel Colón.
“Habitat and Esperanza make natural partners because we are both in the business of building community. This partnership leverages each organization’s strengths with Esperanza’s deep roots and investment in Hunting Park, and Habitat’s home repair experience. We know we can accomplish more together – and hope this is just the start,” said Corinne O’Connell.
EHED has invested over $40 million into the Hunting Park community and business projects over the years with the mission to transform Hunting Park into a destination and a model neighborhood.
For media inquiries please contact Joy Huertas at jhuertas@esperanza.us.
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Esperanza is a national community-based organization founded in 1987 by Rev. Luis Cortés and the Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity with the biblical mandate to serve and advocate for “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). Beginning with a local initiative, with programs targeted to address the unmet needs of North Philadelphia’s Hispanic community, Rev. Cortes is now sought by national and international leaders alike on issues of economic and workforce development, housing, immigration, and education. Under his leadership, Esperanza has grown from a small 20-person operation to a $40 million organization with more than 400 employees. Follow us on social media @esperanza_us on Twitter and Instagram, EsperanzaUSA on Facebook and Esperanza US on YouTube. For more information, please visit www.esperanza.us.
Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia builds strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia transforms lives and our city by building and repairing quality homes in partnership with families in need and by uniting all Philadelphians around the cause of affordable housing. Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia has built and sold 208 energy-efficient homes to first-time homeowners, and strategically partnered with more than 430 homeowners and their families to provide critical home repairs. For more information, visit www.habitatphiladelphia.org.
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