NAIOP builds a partnership with Habitat for Humanity

For the eighth straight year in a row, the NAIOP Upstate New York Chapter called upon its members to lend a helping hand on a Habitat for Humanity project. Habitat for Humanity is a not-for-profit Christian group of committed volunteers who want to see families in safe, clean, and affordable housing. Habitat works with low-income families toward the goal of home ownership by renovating existing houses or building new houses and selling them to the new owners at no profit with no interest over a 20-year mortgage. Habitat was founded in 1976 in Americus, Georgia by Millard and Linda Fuller. Today, there are more than 1,700 affiliates across the U.S. and projects in 100 countries around the world. Habitat is the 15th largest home builder in the U.S., having built over 44,000 homes in this country and more than 200,000 homes worldwide. Habitat/Buffalo was founded in 1985; it has built over 240 homes in 25 years. Habitat Buffalo is one of the largest builders in the Northeast Region of Habitat International. No direct taxpayer support is used in constructing these homes. It is primarily volunteer, and 90 cents of every dollar spent goes into construction. On July 8, the NAIOP Upstate New York Chapter took part in working on a Habitat for Humanity site in Buffalo. Our "Habitat team" spent the day painting, building, drilling and hammering; turning a once old, rundown house from a bygone era into a modern new dream home. The team consisted of volunteers from CB Richard Ellis, NAIOP Upstate New York, Uniland Development Company, Hunt Engineers, and Key Logistics. Director, Ron Talboys had this to say about NAIOP. "Habitat Buffalo values the partnership that has grown over the past eight years where NAIOP members from Upstate New York volunteer on a Habitat work site, helping low income families become a homeowner, and stabilizing the community by rehabbing a vacant, run-down house. NAIOP has contributed several thousand dollars as well to help purchase the needed materials for rehab." "NAIOP is committed to giving back to the community, and Habitat Buffalo is delighted they have selected Habitat as one way to accomplish this goal." This year's community project was sponsored by CB Richard Ellis of Buffalo.