Washington, D.C. (September 30, 2005) - Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) officers and leadership committed $500,000 to Habitat for Humanity International to provide a program management office that will manage and lead Habitat’s rebuilding efforts in the Hurricane Katrina affected areas. MBA’s support will enable Habitat’s rebuilding efforts in the gulf coast area to begin with their “Operation Home Delivery” program, an unprecedented effort to build more houses in the U.S. than any other previous Habitat project.

MBA’s commitment to Habitat’s rebuilding efforts follows a recent donation to the American Red Cross last week in the amount of $100,000 towards their relief efforts and individual staff contributions of $8,600.

“MBA is committed to helping provide immediate shelter in the short term and permanent housing in the long term for the victims of Hurricane Katrina,” said Jonathan L. Kempner, MBA’s president and CEO. “MBA and Habitat have a longstanding partnership, as we share a common mission of facilitating safe and affordable housing.”

In addition to the significant financial support MBA has extended, we and our members are reaching out to individual consumers affected by Hurricane Katrina with servicing information, contacts and instructions. Public service announcements and ads are also running to reach as many affected consumers as possible. Both www.mortgagebankers.org and www.homeloanlearningcenter.com are providing a number of resources for victims of Hurricane Katrina as well. Additional relief efforts will be considered as the reconstruction work progresses in the gulf coast.

This joint effort between MBA and Habitat reflects a continuous partnership that has sponsored 56 homes since 1998. Another property will be constructed during MBA’s 92nd Annual Convention & Expo in Orlando, FL this October.