Tackling poverty housing in France and beyond: Partnership signed with Habitat et Humanisme

Contact:
Marion du Verne, Habitat et Humanisme
+33 4 72 27 46 87; m.duverne@habitat-humanisme.org

Tricia Deering, Habitat for Humanity Europe and Central Asia
+36 1 411 2170; tdeering@habitat.org

LYON / BUDAPEST (Feb. 21) – Bound by a common mission to end poverty housing, today two organizations have signed a partnership to leverage their strengths: Habitat for Humanity and France’s Habitat et Humanisme.

“We are thrilled to enter into this partnership of hearts, minds, and goodwill to help eradicate poverty housing in France and worldwide,” said Jonathan Reckford, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity International.

The partnership aims to combat poverty housing in France, and worldwide. Events may include joint construction building events, corporate partnerships, and potential involvement by Habitat for Humanity supporters and French tennis stars Amélie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce.

“With Habitat for Humanity, we not only share common names, but more importantly basic values. The human being is always at the centre of our efforts. On that solid ground, we at Habitat et Humanisme have great expectations for a mutually fruitful exchange of experience with such a respectable and efficient international organization,” said Bernard Usquin, member of the Board in charge of this partnership.

In the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding, the two organizations will collaborate in areas including housing policy, housing construction, capacity building, training, community development and mobilization, volunteerism, family integration, research and monitoring, housing finance, communications, fundraising, financing, international project development, and French project and event management.

“For many years French pioneers in this field, such as the late Abbé Pierre [founder of the Emmaus movement] and Father Bernard Devert [founder and president of Habitat et Humanisme] have been inspirations to all of us striving to end poverty housing and homelessness,” said Don Haszczyn, Vice President of Habitat for Humanity Europe & Central Asia.  “We’re delighted that H&H in France will be adding their voice and expertise to the global cause, and to be working in partnership with them in France.”

About Habitat et Humanisme
Habitat et Humanisme has been fighting poverty housing for more than 20 years in France. H&H was created in 1985 in Lyon by Father Bernard Devert, a former real estate executive. H&H is now operating in 70 French cities and allowed 30,000 people in need to find accommodation. All beneficiaries are helped by H&H volunteers to integrate their social environment.

About Habitat for Humanity in Europe & Central Asia
Habitat for Humanity is a nondenominational Christian charity dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. It has built more than 200 000 houses; more than one million people are living in Habitat homes they helped build and own through low-cost, no-profit mortgages. We have positively affected lives in 100 countries around the globe. Habitat’s Europe & Central Asia regional headquarters are in Budapest, Hungary. The ECA region is actively fundraising, building and renovating homes with families in need.
www.habitateurope.org