Non-profit delivers housing, cash and services to hurricane victims

(I-Newswire) September 15, 2005 - HOUSTON - For the first time since Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home in New Orleans a week earlier, the Suazo family went to sleep without the gnawing stress of homelessness.

Norm and Reina Suazo, six-year-old Anthony and four-year-old Imani, stayed in shelters and churches in the Houston area for nearly a week before they were given an apartment by National Housing Development Corporation, a Southern California-based affordable housing non-profit organization. Los Angeles-based Century Housing has partnered with NHDC, providing $10,000 in funding for the relief effort.

"It feels wonderful to have a home again for my children," said Reina Suazo. "We are so grateful."

The Suazos are one of 25 families who have already received housing through the apartment units provided by NHDC, which has committed to making a total of 166 apartments in Houston and Little Rock, Arkansas available for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Families are being referred to the NHDC effort primarily by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Those interested in receiving housing through the NHDC program are encouraged to call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362.

NHDC is providing additional recovery assistance for each family that includes cash for necessities, job placement assistance, transportation, social services and counseling to help families cope with the trauma of losing their home and get back on their feet. NHDC's sister company, Southern California Housing Development Corporation, and its social service affiliate, Hope Through Housing, are also part of the housing relief effort.

"Having a roof over your head again goes a long way toward restoring stability and easing the emotional devastation on families impacted by this tragedy," said NHDC Founder and CEO Jeff Burum. "We saw an opportunity to bring families relief through housing and give them the tools to make a fresh start. That is really what our organization is all about."

NHDC has also launched a fundraising campaign for hurricane victims called Aid-A-Family. Individuals can make financial contributions and sponsor families who are receiving assistance from NHDC by visiting www.AidAFamily.org. Because all administrative costs are covered by NHDC, 100% of donations go directly to the families.

"The public is eager to help and we want to give them an opportunity to contribute dollars that will go directly toward helping families get back on their feet," said G. Allan Kingston, President / CEO of Century Housing and a member of the NHDC Board of Directors. "You can't start putting the pieces back together unless you have a place from which to start."

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CONTACT: Qiana Wallace
(909) 816-2544

Company Contact Information
National Housing Development Corporation