IRVINE, CA (December 5, 2007) — Over one hundred people joined HomeAid Orange County, John Laing Homes, the Orange County Rescue Mission and the City of Buena Park to ceremonially raise walls at Hope Family Housing-Buena Park on Thursday, November 29, 2007.

When completed in the spring of 2008, sixteen homeless families from the Orange County Rescue Mission will move into a row townhome community exquisitely designed by Bassenian/Lagoni Architects.
Hope Family Housing-Buena Park was the vision of the Buena Park City Council and their proactive step to be part of the solution to homeless challenges in their community. Buena Park Mayor Patsy Marshall joined with partnership leaders, Dave Prolo and Eric Weinstein from John Laing Homes; Aram Bassenian, founder of Bassenian/Lagoni Architects; Jim Palmer, Orange County Rescue Mission; Richard Hunsaker, HomeAid Orange County; Mike Ruane, Children and Families Commission of Orange County; and Mike Ford, Bank of America to actually raise the framed walls on one of the units.

“Through HomeAid and others, we have come to learn that the homeless issue is a multi-layered and complicated one,” says Buena Park City Manager, Rick Warsinski, who went on to say that Buena Park believes it is their responsibility to do its share to help people in need.

John Laing Homes has served in the leadership role as builder captain on three HomeAid Orange County projects.

“John Laing Homes has always believed that building homes and communities is an honorable profession. We are excited to be in a partnership with these outstanding leaders of our community. Together we will help to provide a solid foundation upon which the future residents of Hope Family Housing can move out of the cycle of homelessness to independent self-sufficient lives,” says Dave Prolo, president John Laing Homes’ South Coast Division.

The estimated $5.4 million project has received financial support of $1.3 million from the Children and Families Commission of Orange County. The commission allocates funds from Proposition 10 that adds a 50-cent sales tax on tobacco products sold in California for education, health and child development programs for children ages 0-5 and their families. Additional funding of $1million was also received from the Federal Home Loan Banks through Bank of America. Further support has come from over 80 consultants, suppliers and specialty contractors who have donated their services or have made in-kind contributions.

Orange County Rescue Mission will manage Hope Family Housing’s day-to-day operations, providing an environment of independent living with supportive services. Residents will participate in a two-year program that includes job training, counseling and other services including life skills training that will assist them with their ultimate goal – independent living. As part of the Hope Family Housing program residents will be required to pay a monthly sliding scale rent to cover operational costs, with an approximate range of $400 to $1,020 per month.

About HomeAid Orange County

HomeAid Orange County is the founding chapter of a national non-profit organization with the mission to build dignified housing where homeless families and individuals can rebuild their lives. Founded in 1989 by the Orange County Chapter of the Building Industry Association of Southern California, HomeAid acts as the housing developer and liaison between services providers, community volunteers, builders and specialty contractors. To date the organization has completed 40 developments that serve victims of domestic violence, pregnant homeless women, abused and abandoned children, homeless adults living with HIV/AIDS and homeless families. www.homeaidoc.org