HomeAid Tampa Bay

(c/o Tampa Bay Builders Association) 2918 W. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 201
Tampa, FL 33609



On February 5, 2007, HomeAid launched its 18th nationwide chapter, expanding into Tampa, Florida. Founded with the generous support of the Tampa Bay Builders Association (TBBA) and its members, HomeAid Tampa Bay will build housing facilities for the community's temporarily homeless population to offer individuals and families a chance to get back on their feet and rebuild their lives.

According to Jeffry R. Ewing of Ladera Construction Group, who is president of the TBBA, there is a rising homelessness problem in the Tampa Bay area that is reaching a crisis level. "With the rate of homelessness in Hillsborough County climbing 70 percent since 2002 to give it the sixth highest homeless population in the United States, the members of our association wanted to give back to our community by doing what we do best: build housing," said Ewing. "HomeAid has a proven track record in communities across the United States in helping cope with this issue through building housing facilities for the temporarily homeless, and we are proud to join the organization's nationwide efforts to combat homelessness."

Contributions from national partners played an important role in the founding of HomeAid Tampa Bay. The local division of Lennar Corporation already has agreed to be the builder captain managing all elements of construction on the chapter's first building project, which is currently in the planning stages.

"Across the country, Lennar is a strong supporter of HomeAid because we have seen - through serving on other chapter boards and overseeing many building projects - how well the organization's work can help solve a community's homeless problem," said Larry Peebles, regional vice president of Lennar and president of HomeAid Tampa Bay's board of directors.

Additionally, Bank of America continues to be an instrumental national partner, offering both financial and strategic support for the development of HomeAid's proprietary chapter expansion model, as well as helping to speed the multi-month process of bringing HomeAid Tampa Bay to the area. The model details the process whereby HomeAid works with local building industry associations, service providers and community leaders to form a chapter.

Pro-Build Holdings, Inc., the nation's largest supplier of building materials to professional contractors, also was instrumental through a $450,000 multi-year donation specifically for HomeAid to reach into new communities in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states to provide transitional housing for the temporarily homeless.