News Release

March 11, 2009

Contact: Erin Angell Collins, 202-220-6317, ecollins@nw.org

NeighborWorks America COO Eileen Fitzgerald Helps Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida Open New Locations in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties
New Offices Will Enable Organization to Help More South Florida Residents

Miami, FL—Today NeighborWorks Chief Operating Officer Eileen Fitzgerald will help Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida, a member of the NeighborWorks network, unveil a new name and expanded service area by opening the first of two new offices in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties that will provide foreclosure prevention services, affordable housing opportunities, and neighborhood revitalization efforts to the South Florida counties.

Founded in 1978 and formerly known as Miami-Dade Neighborhood Housing Services, Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida (NHSSF) recently moved from a small building in the Little Haiti section of Miami to its new facility located at 300 NW 12th Avenue in Miami

(L-R): Don Phoenix, NeighborWorks Southern District Director; Beverly Kovach, NHSSF Board Member; Maria Lee-Forbes, NHSSF Board Member; Eileen Fitzgerald, NeighborWorks COO; Arden Shank, NHSSF CEO; Maedell Brown, NHSSF Board Member; Emilio Fernandez, NHSSF Board Member; Donna Adams, NHSSF Board Member; Doug Gaither NeighborWorks Southern District Real Estate Management Consultant

Overthe last several years the demand for NHSSF services – foreclosure prevention counseling, in particular -- has grown exponentially because of the national foreclosure crisis that has hit South Florida homeowners especially hard. The opening of an office in Broward County—where the organization has been serving families for several years --   meant a name change to Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida, to better reflect the area the organization serves, which now includes both Broward and Miami-Dade counties. 

Celebrating two grand openings with NHSSF, NeighborWorks America Chief Operating Officer Eileen Fitzgerald will deliver the keynote address during both grand opening ceremonies.

As a chartered member of the NeighborWorks network and operator of a NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center, NHSSF is one of more than 230 trained and certified community development organizations throughout the nation.

Other NeighborWorks officials in attendance at this week’s grand opening ceremonies include Don Phoenix, Southern District Director, and Doug Gaither, Southern District Relationship Manager.

For more information about the services offered by Neighborhood Housing Services of Florida, please visit their new office locations:

• Miami-Dade County: 300 NW 12th Avenue, Miami, Fla., (305) 751-5511
• Broward County: 2800 West Oakland Park, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., (954) 564-4037

Or, please visit the NHSSF Web site, www.mdnhs.org.

About Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida
Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida (NHSSF) is a nonprofit “one-stop-shop” that turns housing dreams into reality by providing affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and foreclosure prevention services throughout Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Sponsored in part by Miami-Dade County, services and classes are conducted in English, Spanish, and Creole. Staff capacity also allows us to communicate with customers in French. Distinctive in its lending services, NHS offers a comprehensive set of training and lending options for first-time homeowners. A certified NeighborWorks Homeownership Center, NHSSF is also a chartered member of the NeighborWorks network, a nationwide network of 245 trained and certified community development organizations at work in more than 4,400 communities across America. Go to www.mdnhs.org for more information.

About NeighborWorks America
NeighborWorks America creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $19.5 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.