Benefactors Step Up to Support Southern California Nonprofit in the Fight to End Chronic Veteran Homelessness
Press Release – MIDWAY CITY, CA–(Marketwired – Jun 1, 2016) – American Family Housing (AFH) — the revolutionary nonprofit organization dedicated to permanently ending the cycle of homelessness throughout Orange, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties — is pleased to announce it has been awarded a grant from The Home Depot® Foundation in the amount of $100,000 and hands-on help from community Team Depot volunteers. In support of the bold and innovative new AFH housing project which breaks ground in Midway City, Calif., in June, called Potter’s Lane — this grant from The Home Depot Foundation will meet some of the immediate needs for the energy-efficient and sustainable housing site for veterans, which is quickly gaining wide support from public, private and government organizations alike.
“We are extremely grateful for this grant from The Home Depot Foundation and the financial and physical support it provides for the Potter’s Lane project,” says AFH CEO and president, Donna Gallup. “We at AFH are humbled by the outpouring support which is helping us make chronic veteran homelessness a problem of the past in our community.”
The Home Depot Foundation’s Veteran Housing Grants Program was created to provide grants to nonprofits like AFH to fund the development and repair of housing for veterans.
Thanks to valuable partnerships with organizations like The Home Depot Foundation, along with state, county and AFH benefactors, the eco-friendly housing project will provide permanent housing for chronically homeless veterans utilizing GrowthPoint Structures, whose innovative construction methods will upcycle steel shipping containers to create 16 beautiful 480-square-foot living spaces designed to complement the surrounding environs. Potter’s Lane has the potential to increase the speed to market by providing a solution to increase access to affordable permanent housing without the long development cycles associated with conventional site-built construction and financing, increase sustainability and energy efficiency, and create opportunities to leverage scarce resources.
In addition to providing homes of steel for the brave of heart, the Potter’s Lane project will also provide comprehensive wrap-around services to help these veterans achieve stability and self-sufficiency. AFH provides homeless and low-income families with a broad spectrum of services, including basic needs for food and clothing. By unconditionally supporting families and adults in their efforts to secure a stable home and achieve a self-sustaining way of life, AFH is helping dignified and hardworking men and women find a safe harbor, and a place to call home, as they rebuild their lives and contribute to their communities.
“The Home Depot Foundation is committed to improving the homes and lives of our U.S. military veterans, and since 2011, we’ve transformed more than 25,000 homes for veterans,” adds Shannon Gerber, executive director, The Home Depot Foundation. “Team Depot, our associate-led volunteer force, is honored to partner with American Family Housing to help provide much needed housing for veterans in the Midway City community.”
Designed by SVA Architects, Potter’s Lane is sponsored by Del Amo Construction, US Bank, The Home Depot Foundation, Pacific Premier Bank and Chick-fil-A; and has received generous gifts from the Trabuco Presbyterian Church, Presbytery of Los Ranchos and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. The project is primarily funded by the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVets) and the Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Program (VHHP); and has also received critical approval from the County of Orange and the Veterans Administration of Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) rental subsidies.
American Family Housing plans to host a groundbreaking event for Potter’s Lane on June 24th; a detailed event release is forthcoming.
AFH is still seeking donations for the Potter’s Lane capital campaign. If you are interested in receiving more information regarding donations and sponsored naming opportunities within Potter’s Lane, please visit www.afhusa.org/potterslane or call (714) 897-3221.
ABOUT GIVING BACK AT THE HOME DEPOT:
Since the first The Home Depot store opened in 1979, giving back has been a core value for the Company and a passion for its associates. Today, The Home Depot, in partnership with The Home Depot Foundation, focuses its philanthropic efforts on improving the homes and lives of U.S. military veterans and their families and aiding communities affected by natural disasters. Through Team Depot, the Company’s associate-led volunteer force, thousands of associates dedicate their time and talents to these efforts in the communities where they live and work. Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has invested more than $138 million to veteran causes, and along with the help of Team Depot volunteers, has transformed more than 25,000 homes for veterans. To learn more and see Team Depot in action, visit www.homedepot.com/teamdepot.
ABOUT AMERICAN FAMILY HOUSING:
Founded in 1985, American Family Housing (AFH) is a nonprofit organization that provides a continuum of housing and a broad spectrum of services to vulnerable populations facing barriers to achieving housing stability, including war veterans and adults with disabilities and mental illness. Operating 63 housing sites, with 267 units that serve more than 1,000 adults and children each year in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties, AFH is committed to permanently ending the cycle of homelessness, helping low-income families and adults achieve a self-sustaining way of life and become active members of their communities. For more information, visit www.afhusa.org.
