NEW ORLEANS, February 6, 2012 – Today, Musician & Homeowner Al Johnson, Councilwoman Kristin Gisleson Palmer and participating members of the Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance (GNOHA) launched a 12-month marketing campaign designed to promote homeownership at all income levels throughout the city. Through a website, homeownership hotline, billboards and a
series of outreach/educational events, Own the Crescent will connect interested homebuyers with high quality homes, affordable mortgages and the chance to own their piece of the crescent.
Own the Crescent is a partnership of for-profit and not-for-profit housing developers, homebuyer education agencies and realtors. The launch event was held at 2404-06 St. Ann Street, a home renovated and for sale by the Preservation Resource Center Operation Comeback. The renovated shotgun double is only one of the 200 homes for sale right now by Own the Crescent partners. Over the next 18 months, partners expect to produce another 400 homes for eager first-time homebuyers.
Johnson and Gisleson Palmer are the campaign’s first spokespeople and provide their unique perspectives as existing homeowners. Johnson purchased his home through Own the Crescent partner New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. “It’s good to be settled again in my own home, living amongst other musicians,” said Johnson. Prospective homeowners can call the Buy Dat Hotline: 1-855-2 BUY DAT (1-855-228-9328) or visit the initiative’s website: www.ownthecrescent.org. The hotline and website will refer buyers to developers who share a commitment to the belief that homeownership is an accessible, beneficial and desirable opportunity. The partners know that through collaboration every interested and qualified applicant can become a homeowner. “Homeownership provides many benefits to our families and our neighborhoods. When people own their own home, they have a greater sense of community and it empowers individuals and families by building wealth and prosperity,” said Gisleson Palmer.
Own the Crescent participating members include Associated Neighborhood Development (AND), Fortuné Development, LLC, JEDC Housing Division Ministry, Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS), New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, New Orleans Neighborhood Development Collaborative (NONDC), Providence Community Housing, Preservation Resource Center Operation Comeback, Project Home Again, Project Homecoming, St. Bernard Project and New Orleans Metropolitan Area Realtors (NOMAR). “Marketing our neighborhoods, marketing our city is a great way to transform people’s lives and bring new homeowners to the areas we’ve long loved,” said Patricia H. Gay, Executive Director of the Preservation Resource Center. The campaign has also received additional support from sponsors like Capital One, Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. and NeighborWorks America.
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The Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance (GNOHA) was formed in the spring of 2007. It is a collaborative formed by the non-profit housing builders and community development corporations who are working diligently to rebuild the City of New Orleans after the flood brought by Hurricane Katrina devastated the Cityâs infrastructure â specifically its housing stock. GNOHA’s mission is to collaborate and support member efforts to build workforce housing for the citizens of the Greater New Orleans area in an ethical and efficient manner. Learn more about GNOHA at www.facebook.com/GNOHA.
