HopeBuilders launch pack

Download Launch press release (212KB WORD)
Photos from the launch
Download launch event (761KB JPG)
Download circus performers (328KB JPG) (from Circus Space)
Download Susan Revell (254KB JPG) – committing to be a HopeBuilder
Download Christopher Hyman (309KB JPG) – committing to be a HopeBuilder
Download Alistair Appleton (302KB JPG) – celebrity host for the evening
For more photos, please contact Rachel Done

Press release: HopeBuilders to nail poverty housing

With home renovation, DIY and home improvement programmes still enjoying large popularity in lifestyle media, the charity Habitat for Humanity (HFH) has launched a homebuilding project with a difference. Through its new HopeBuilders campaign, individuals and businesses are being challenged to 'nail poverty housing'. They do this by committing to raise £1235 – enough to build a new home that will change not just the rooms, but the lives of families currently living in poverty.

The launch took place in the presence of HRH the Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO, HFH royal patron, at a gala evening at the National Maritime Museum on the 12 May 2006. Numerous corporate supporters attended the launch including Cisco, Blueamber, Citigroup, CML, Credit Suisse, Disney, Freshfields, GE Money, Genworth Financial, GMAC, HBOS, Lafarge, Moneygram, Morgan Stanley, NHBC, Serco Integrated Transport, Serco Travel, Wardour, Whirlpool and WTA.

According to the UN, there are around 2 billion people living in poverty housing, approximately 30% of the entire world population. There are around a further 100 million people who are homeless – almost twice the population of the UK. The impact of those figures is that such conditions damage the wellbeing, health, education and hope for the future of millions of families in the world's poorer countries.

Ian Walkden, HFH National Director said

"Globally, poverty housing is a massive barrier to development. If we really want to help people break the cycle of poverty forever then we simply have to help them address the issue of housing. Poverty housing is hugely destructive. Becoming a HopeBuilder is a practical way to help nail poverty housing for good. £1235 is the price of a decent laptop computer for us here and very easy to raise if not so easy for many to give – but it's an amount that can transform the lives of a family in one of the world's poorer countries. And that's how the permanent solution to this problem will come: one family at a time."

£1235 is typically the amount of money needed to pay for all the materials and labour (most of which is done voluntarily by the new home partner family, their friends, neighbours and others) needed to build a typical Habitat house in the developing world.

Anyone can become a Hopebuilder. Individuals can pledge their support and donate or raise £1235 to build a home, they can also become a regular donor at £12.35 a month. Organisations too can sign up and commit to donating £1235 and promoting the campaign to their staff, customers and suppliers. In addition, HopeBuilders can even choose to actually go and build alongside a home partner family in their chosen country as part of the ongoing HFH International Global Village volunteering programme.

Other ways to support HFH include leaving a Legacy. HFH appreciate all the donations, no matter how large or small. HFH supporters in the UK have already given many people in need hope for a better future by providing the funds for a simple, decent home.

But, there are still 2 billion people in substandard accommodation; HFH's goal of eliminating poverty housing will not be completed by this generation. Leaving a legacy is a practical way of showing you care in the years that lie ahead. Visit www.hopebuilders.org.uk for more information.

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Habitat for Humanity (HFH) is a global not for profit housing organisation which works to stamp out poverty housing and homelessness from the face of the earth and make adequate housing for all a matter of conscience and action.

HFH was founded in 1976 by one man's vision to see a world where everyone has a simple, decent and affordable place to live. 30 years on, and today, HFH works in almost 100 countries and has helped over 1 million people out of often appalling poverty and into their own simple, decent homes.

HFH have built 250,000 houses since it began in 1976, the last 150,000 of these were built in the last 5 years. Today, HFH is building a home every 24 minutes. Every £1235 HFH receives from the Hopebuilder campaign, another home can be built and another family housed in decent, simple accommodation.