HOPE CEO Give Congressional Testimony on Econ. Dev. in Underserved Communities

ECD/HOPE Partners with Common Ground Relief to Rebuild New Orleans
CDFI Involvement Supports Nonprofit and Local Residents

New Orleans–ECD/HOPE is participating in a ribbon cutting ceremony for Common Ground Relief on Thursday, May 27, at 10:30 a.m.  The event will be held at 1804 Deslonde Street in New Orleans.  ECD/HOPE is a partner with Common Ground, working to address community development needs on a number of fronts.

Common Ground Relief provides short-term relief for victims of hurricane disasters in the gulf coast region, and long-term support in rebuilding the communities affected in the New Orleans area.  Common Ground Relief is a community-initiated volunteer organization offering assistance, mutual aid and support.  Common Ground has gutted over 3000 homes, provided basic needs for thousands of New Orleans residents, and founded a now independent health clinic and women’s shelter.

In addition, Common Ground Relief helps residents with the rebuilding of their flood-damaged homes and offers assistance for new construction.  The group is striving to re-create historic levels of agricultural self-sufficiency in the Lower Ninth Ward.

ECD/HOPE will work with Common Ground Relief in the following ways:

• Providing permanent financing on their newly completed office/model home.
• Providing additional financing on future projects
• Pre-screening applicants for home purchases
• Assisting with homebuyer training
• Providing home financing for qualified applicants

The ribbon cutting event for invited guests and members of the media will feature a tour of Maison Marquette, the organization’s beautiful, spacious new model home. Maison Marquette is named for Marquette University, of Milwaukee, WI, the first university to offer construction and skilled training classes for the Common Ground Relief Home Construction program.

ECD/HOPE will also be present at an open house and BBQ event sponsored by Common Ground on Saturday, May 29, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  You are welcome to join area residents as they stop by to find out more about what HOPE can do for them with affordable, responsible financial services.

The city-wide building program will provide custom-built, custom-designed, sustainable single-family homes starting at $89,000. The homes will be stick-built using local materials and supported by local craftsmen trained by Common Ground Relief’s Job Training Program through its building partnerships.

Like the model home, which features 10-foot ceilings, crown molding, eco-friendly flooring and tile, granite counters, well-appointed bathrooms and kitchens, and ecologically friendly biosphere gardens, all homes will be high quality dwellings that are energy efficient and affordable to maintain for every price range and in any neighborhood around Greater New Orleans.  Through Common Ground Relief’s Free Legal Clinic, interested homebuyers can clear up credit issues or other problems that may stand in the way of home ownership.

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