ETA Star partners with Habitat for Humanity for the 'Homes for the Homeless' initiative

UAE-based organizations Dubai Lifestyle City, Homes r Us and Star Cement are also partnering with ETA Star to be part of the noble venture.

ETA Star and its partners will donate a percentage of their total sales during the Holy month of Ramadan towards building homes for the destitute in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Ethiopia..

As part of its corporate social responsibility initiative, ETA Star started the Homes for the Homeless initiative last year.

A contribution of Dhs2m was made at the end of the one month campaign in 2007 to the Red Crescent Authority towards building houses for the needy.

Rapid population growth and urbanization has added to the urgency of the housing need. It is estimated that by 2030, cities and towns across Asia will be home to an estimated 2.6 billion people.

Almost as many - 2.2 billion - will be seeking to build better lives in difficult rural areas. The majority will be poor.

Commenting on the Homes for the Homeless initiative with Habitat for Humanity,
Mr. Abid Junaid, Executive Director, ETA Star said,

"We are pleased to be associated with Habitat for Humanity International, to be able to make a contribution towards building homes for the homeless. In Habitat, we have found a proven organization that provides the right synergy in our mission to provide homes for the deprived and underprivileged. We are happy that Dubai Lifestyle City, Homes r Us and Star Cement have joined us in our endeavour to provide assistance to the deprived."

He added: "The Holy month of Ramadan is considered the time for giving; helping the needy. There certainly would be no better way than to help provide shelters to those underprivileged for whom sky is the only roof they can call their own. We are in the business of real estate development and we have consciously made our mission to help the underprivileged to have a house of their own."

Commenting on the partnership with ETA Star and its partners, Mr. Rick Hathway, Area Vice President, Asia-Pacific region, Habitat for Humanity International, said: "It is an established fact that a decent home opens the door to improved health, better performance in school, greater economic opportunities, and increased community cohesion. For more than 30 years, Habitat for Humanity has been a catalyst for such transformations, often achieving great success by working with like-minded partners. We are pleased that ETA Star and its partners have come forward to help us make more such social transformations."

Habitat for Humanity has built more than 250,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter.

Through volunteer labour and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans.

The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses.

Mr. Syed Mashook, Executive Director, Dubai Lifestyle City, said: "We have been a key player in the premium real estate market in the region. It was part of our philosophy to contribute to social developmental work around the world. The association with Habitat for Humanity is a perfect fit of our mission and objectives and we are glad that percentage of our sales during the Ramadan month will be given away as part of a charity work undertaken by us and our partners."

Commenting on their association with the programme, Mr. Murli Pagarani, Director, Homes r Us, said, "We believe that as a socially responsible corporate, it is our duty to uplift the cause and contribute to the progress of the less fortunate amongst us. 'Think home, think Homes r Us' being the tagline for our brand found a perfect fit with Habitat for Humanity's objectives. By contributing a percentage of our sales during Ramadan - the season of sobriety and giving, this for us is a valuable partnership - to help provide safe, affordable shelter to those in dire need and empower them to break the cycle of poverty and build the foundation for a secure future."

Mr. Ahmed Salahuddin, General Manager Star Cement, said, "Being an ETA group company, contributing to philanthropic activities is inborn. The group has been involved in corporate social responsibility activities over the last many years. It was a natural step for Star Cement to readily agree to partner in this activity. We are glad that percentage of our sales from the Ramadan month will go to Habitat for Humanity that is involved in building homes for the homeless."

Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labour — sweat equity — into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.

Some of Habitat's star volunteers include former US President Jimmy Carter, musician Jon Bon Jovi and actors Brad Pitt and John Abraham.