Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. and AmeriCorps to Celebrate Veterans Day at Home Dedication Ceremony

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C.:

WHAT: On November 10, Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. (DC Habitat) and its partners will join together to commemorate Veterans Day and celebrate Army veteran Ken Harris in his transition from homelessness to homeownership. The event will celebrate the important and invaluable service veterans provide to our country and highlight DC Habitat's partnership with AmeriCorps, whose members work every day to improve the lives of people in need through community service. The home dedication event will be held at Mr. Harris' new home in Ivy City.

WHO: Susanne Slater, President and CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C.
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton, District of Columbia
Bill Basl, Director of AmeriCorps, the Corporation for National and Community Service
John Driscoll, President & CEO, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
Pete Dougherty, Associate Executive Director, Homeless Programs, Department of Veterans Affairs
John Walker, All Faith Consortium, the Qi-Life Center
Bruce Reed, Senior Director, Franchise Operations, Marriott International
Ken Harris, new homeowner
DC Habitat staff and volunteers

WHEN: Saturday, November 10, 2012 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

WHERE: 1830 Providence Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

Background: Following his service to our country in the Army, Ken Harris spent many years as a homeless citizen in our nation's capital. Having completed his Habitat sweat equity hours, he is now moving out of the Qi-Life Center transitional housing program and into a home of his own.

Since 1995, Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. (DC Habitat) has been partnering with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to grow its capacity building and direct service efforts through the service of AmeriCorps members. DC Habitat is proud to partner with AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) in its office, with National Direct AmeriCorps members on its construction site, and alongside the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) to respond to emergency housing and construction needs. Recently, CNCS created Veteran Corps with 30 new positions for veterans to continue their service to America. DC Habitat recognizes the great importance of this initiative and hopes to grow its own goal of engaging veterans as Habitat homeowners and volunteers.

DC Habitat also wishes to recognize The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation for their sponsorship of the home built for Ken Harris.

Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. believes that everyone deserves a house they want to call home. That's why we work to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness in the nation's capital by building affordable, energy- and resource-efficient homes for people in need. DC Habitat builds and rehabilitates homes in order to sell them to families who are ineligible for conventional financing. Visit us at www.dchabitat.org for more information.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than four million Americans in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, Social Innovation Fund, and other programs, and leads President Obama's national call to service initiative, United We Serve.  The agency taps the skills and leadership abilities of veterans to serve in AmeriCorps and Senior Corps.  In addition, CNCS serves 600,000 veterans and military families in more than 200 communities nationwide.  For more information, visit NationalService.gov.

Contact:
Heather Phibbs
Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C.
(202) 882-4600, ext. 233 
[email protected]  

SOURCE Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C.