READS celebrates manufactured housing week

Metuchen nonprofit makes homeownership an affordable possibility

FOR IMMEDIATE RLEASE

METUCHEN (June 15, 2009) -- This week, during National Manufactured Housing Week, Real Estate Advisory and Development Services (READS) is dispelling myths and opening the doors of homeownership to all income levels in America, by improving housing in manufactured homes.

Manufactured housing is a significant source of affordable housing for families who cannot afford to buy a site-built home in many of the nation's housing markets. READS is taking part in the program Innovations in Manufactured Homes (I'M HOME), a national initiative that seeks to ensure that the more than 17 million Americans who live in manufactured homes can reap the same benefits of homeownership enjoyed by families who buy other kinds of homes.

I'M HOME supports programs like READS across the country that are helping families who choose manufactured homes make sure these are good investments.

Since October 200, READS has been helping residents of manufactured homes in New Jersey in their efforts to buy the land their communities are based on as a means of preserving them from development. In 2008 it also began working with communities in Delaware, where it recently helped the residents of Minquadale Village buy their community for $2.1 million.

"Manufactured home communities are a tremendous asset to New Jersey and all its municipalities that have them," said Brian Keenan, president and founder of READS. "Their comparatively low cost makes manufactured homes a viable path to homeownership for millions of Americans, who bring real civic pride to their neighborhoods. And especially when these communities are resident-owned, the equity that the homeowners build in their communities ends up being a boon for everyone."

Now in its fifth year, I'M HOME is working across the nation with more than 30 community partners to develop attractive new housing and replacing dilapidated homes; changing the way manufactured homes are financed; working with families who live in "parks," where there are special challenges; and working with policymakers to make sure the same benefits and protections are available to everyone who buys a home, regardless of how it is built.

"Manufactured homes not only provide long-term, lower-cost housing, but they can also help build financial security for millions of families through ownership," said Kathryn Gwatkin Goulding, the Director of I'M HOME. "Manufactured Housing Week is an opportunity to bring awareness across the country that there is a great opportunity to create better quality, better financed housing in this very large market."

In partnership with I'M HOME, the National Consumer Law Center has been working to develop and advance a local, state and federal policy agenda that addresses obstacles in the manufactured housing industry, supports the preservation and expansion of affordable housing through quality manufactured housing, and promotes asset building. Manufactured housing policy analysis and other resources from the National Consumer Law Center are available at www.nclc.org/issues/mobile_homes/index.shtml

For more information on READS, call Keenan at (732) 635-1000.


On the web:
www.readsusa.com
www.cfed.org/go/imhome.



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READS is an innovative nonprofit real estate development company committed to building strong organizations and communities through innovative real estate development. Since its inception in 2003 READS has assisted dozens of nonprofits develop there facilities to meet there social service needs.

READS provides all phases of real estate development and technical assistance including financial structuring and project management. READS' work has been recognized by the New Jersey Department of Education with the Corporate Partnership Award for its work with charter schools and the Federal Department Education as a promising practice in real estate development.

I'm HOME is an initiative of the Corporation for Enterprise Development. CFED expands economic opportunity by helping Americans and their children build assets, save for the future, start and grow businesses, pursue education and become homeowners.

We identify, refine and help realize good ideas and develop partnerships to promote lasting change. We bring together community practice, public policy and private markets in new and effective ways to achieve greater economic impact. Established in 1979 as the Corporation for Enterprise Development, CFED works nationally and internationally through its offices in Washington, DC; Durham, North Carolina; and San Francisco, California.

Newark charter school to honor READS founder

Keenan commended for work supporting state's charter schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWARK -- Marion P. Thomas Charter School will honor READS president Brian Keenan at its annual Fathers for Our Children event on June 18.

Keenan, who founded Real Estate Advisory and Development Services six years ago, has been an advocate and supporter of charter schools across New Jersey, including Marion P. Thomas.

“I am at once humbled and deeply honored to receive this award,” said Keenan, a Metuchen resident. “Marion P. Thomas Charter School is an outstanding school. As someone who grew up with a learning disability and ADHD, never did I think I would be developing schools, and never did I think I would be honored for my work. This award has really moved me.”

Fathers for Our Children is a presentation from students of Marion P. Thomas Charter School to men who serve as role models in the community. The ceremony will be held at Victoria Theatre in the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

Proceeds from the event provide scholarships for the graduating eighth-graders, who go on to top-ranked high schools that require tuition support.

This year students already have been admitted to schools for the fall that include The Taft School, The Peddie School, Seton Hall Preparatory School, Saint Benedict's Preparatory School, Mother Seton Regional High School, and Marist High School.

READS is a nonprofit real estate development company, based in Metuchen and committed to building strong organizations and communities through innovative real estate development. Since its inception in 2003, READS has helped dozens of charter schools to obtain and build facilities that meet their needs.

In 2005 READS assisted Marion P. Thomas Charter School purchase a school facility on South Seventh Street. READS is now working with Marion P. Thomas on a $3.4 million expansion of that facility that will add 12 new classroom to the site and an all-purpose room, creating a charter school campus.

READS is also developing a new facility for Marion P. Thomas, on Sussex Avenue. This $25 million project will be a state-of-the-art charter school facility housing more than 6oo children.

For more information, call Keenan at (732) 635-1000.

On the web:
www.readsusa.org
www.mptcs.org