Nissan Backs Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Lives

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA – January 6, 2010: Nissan Australia has announced a Corporate Social Responsibility partnership with Habitat for Humanity – a not for profit organization which builds houses for low-income and underprivileged families.

In making the donation of a Navara 4x4 King Cab utility, Nissan Managing Director, Dan Thompson said, “Habitat for Humanity is a critical community charity dedicated to improving the lives of families in hardship. Nissan is proud to stand alongside Habitat both here in Australia and in other global markets where we operate.

“The decision to provide Habitat with a Nissan Navara utility mirrors the popularity of Nissan’s proven commercial vehicle among tradesmen and the building industry,” he said.

About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity has built nearly 350,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.5 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, affordable shelter since its founding more than 30 years ago. A new Habitat home is completed somewhere in the world every 12 minutes.

Habitat work with volunteers, sponsors and community groups to help people caught in a rent-induced poverty trap. Underprivileged families chosen on the basis of need alone, purchase their own homes on no-interest mortgages with Habitat. These people also contribute 500 hours of "sweat equity" to the building of their own home, or that of another family. Habitat’s motto is “Giving a Hand-Up, Not a Hand-Out.” Habitat for Humanity Australia was established in 1988 and nationally, almost 100 homes have been completed since 1991. Habitat homes are located in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia

To qualify, families wishing to apply must meet the following criteria:

Currently living in ‘housing related stress’

Be unable to borrow to buy or build a home

Willing to partner with Habitat including

Willing and able to contribute 500 hours of ‘sweat equity’ in building their home, including basic skills and financial training.

Habitat helped many families impacted by the 2009 Victorian Bushfires and is currently preparing a major building project near the Victorian rural town of Yea to provide additional community support.

Nissan contributed $100,000 to the Bushfire Appeal and, through its finance arm Nissan Financial Services, loaned 100 vehicles to families suffering hardship