FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Holly Ferris, Ferris Communications, (562) 429-6456,

 
LINC HOUSING CORPORATION RECEIVES FUNDS
FOR GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVES
$150,000 Grant from The Home Depot Foundation Provides Resources to Create More Affordable, Efficient and Healthy Homes

LONG BEACH, Calif., (Nov. 30, 2006) — LINC Housing Corporation (LINC), a nonprofit developer of affordable housing for seniors and families throughout California, today announced its plans to utilize a $150,000 grant awarded by The Home Depot Foundation. The grant will fund a variety of initiatives that will expand LINC’s efforts in green building.

“LINC’s current strategic plan dictates that we raise our already-high bar on the design and environmental quality of all of our communities,” said Hunter L. Johnson, LINC’s president and CEO. “We’re so grateful to The Home Depot Foundation for this grant because it will help us reach this strategic goal far faster than originally anticipated.”

A current leader in green building, LINC can now expand its efforts and build on lessons previously learned. The grant will fund many facets of LINC’s operations including staff and board education and training, contracting with green experts, establishment of green building standards, development of evaluation tools, and specific improvements to four current LINC communities.

The four pilot properties that will benefit from the grant funds are Tahquitz Court in Palm Springs, Pepperwood Apartments in Rancho Cucamonga, East Street Townhomes in Redding and Columbus Apartments in Bakersfield. The properties in Palm Springs and Rancho Cucamonga will undergo a variety of upgrades and improvements which may include more efficient lighting, appliances and HVAC equipment, as well as low-water landscaping, and the use of recyclable materials and certified sustainable woods. The properties in Redding and Bakersfield are currently in the design phase. There are a variety of green building concepts being considered for these communities including high standards of indoor air quality, renewable energy through the use of a photovoltaic system, and green roofs. Additional green building concepts will be identified in the process of staff and board education, and partnering with green project consultants.

“LINC is enthusiastic about elevating our green building standards because we know that in doing so, we’ll enhance the operation of our properties, the lives of our residents and the ecological sustainability of the cities we serve,” said Johnson. “As a mission-driven developer of affordable housing, we have the responsibility to focus greater resources toward the health and environmental impact of our work for the benefit of our residents and communities.”

“The Home Depot Foundation is pleased to support LINC’s efforts to make their projects, as well as their operations, more sustainable,” said Kelly Caffarelli, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. “Our foundation works with nonprofit organizations that are focusing their efforts on bringing the economic, health and environmental benefits of green building to our neighbors of modest means. We are proud to be partnering with LINC to create stronger, more sustainable communities throughout California.”

About The Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation was created in 2002 to further the community building goals of The Home Depot by providing additional resources to assist nonprofit organizations building affordable, efficient, and healthy homes throughout the United States and Canada. The Home Depot Foundation is dedicated to creating healthy, livable communities through the integration of affordable housing built responsibly and the preservation and restoration of community trees. Since its formation, The Home Depot Foundation has granted more than $25 million to nonprofit and government organizations throughout North America. For more information, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org.

About LINC Housing Corporation
Headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., LINC Housing Corporation is one of California’s most productive nonprofit developers of affordable housing for seniors and families. LINC has had a hand in the development of more than 6,000 homes in 45 communities throughout California. The organization’s properties are known for excellent design, outstanding management and life-enhancing services for its residents. LINC has 23 years of service to families, seniors, and local governments helping to create sustainable communities throughout California via new construction, acquisition and rehabilitation, and/or historic preservation.

  LINC Receives Grant Release