Bankruptcy Strengthens Resolve to "Remodel" Detroit Neighborhood in Six Days

Detroit, MI, July 24, 2013 --(PR.com)-- A declaration of bankruptcy by the City of Detroit has served only to strengthen the determination and enthusiasm of an army of 5,000 volunteers who will come together next week to transform an entire Detroit neighborhood. They aim to build a brand new house, renovate 24 others, board up 250 vacant houses, and beautify 48 city blocks…all in six days!

It’s the biggest and most ambitious project yet of Life Remodeled, a local non-profit that will give away the new house to a single mother and her two sons at the conclusion of the week-long effort beginning July 29. Since 2011, Life Remodeled has built five brand-new houses in the metro Detroit area, each in six days, and given them away to deserving families.

“We’re not just digging a hole, putting a house on it, and giving it away,” said Life Remodeled founder Chris Lambert. “We’re investing in lives. We’re investing in the City of Detroit. Bankruptcy or not, there’s no place we’d rather put our time, talents, and resources right now than in Detroit.”

Recognizing the impact and value that Life Remodeled provides to families and the communities it serves, this year, Quicken Loans has committed to support the project, joining building industry companies like Blaze Contracting and previous Life Remodeled partners, Allied Building Products, Barton Malow and Carrier Air Conditioning. Also, Arise Detroit!, via a large General Motors volunteer workforce, has made this project the featured event for their "Neighborhoods Day" campaign, Aug 3.

In collaboration with a local church network called EACH, dozens of churches in the metro Detroit area also are joining with Life Remodeled for this project. A full list of high-impact partnerships can be found at www.LifeRemodeled.com/Partners.

To ensure success of the project, Life Remodeled is teaming with another non-profit, Central Detroit Christian (CDC), which has been working to stabilize and create positive opportunities in the neighborhood since 1994.

“Our goal is simple: To remodel lives, one family and neighborhood at a time,” said Lambert. “So, when the Life Remodeled team of volunteers completes the project, the entire neighborhood has been given a fresh start!”

Inspired by the TV show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” Life Remodeled takes the concept even further with a more comprehensive approach—providing the families they serve not only with a new house, but with essential life skills for a period of three years after the build. Those include services such as professional family counseling and financial training, as well as spiritual and personal support. Life Remodeled also helps integrate the family into their new community.

“We beautify the surrounding neighborhood by removing blight, painting, cutting lawns and we even provide emergency repairs for nearby homeowners,” said Lambert.

This summer’s project, from July 29 through August 4, will be the only project Life Remodeled will undertake this year, and is expected to be the largest volunteer effort of its kind in recent city history. It will culminate with a reveal of the house, located at 700 W. Philadelphia, to the family on the seventh day, August 4 at 2:30 pm, which will include a huge celebration of all involved with the project—the family, neighbors, and all of the volunteers. The surrounding neighborhood targeted for renovation includes most of the residential city blocks on either side of Woodward bounded by Clairmount and Owen Streets on the north, Oakland St. on the east, Grand Boulevard on the south, and the Lodge Freeway on the west. (A map is available online at liferemodeled.com/the-plan.) Opportunities for interviews, b-roll/video and photos will be available throughout the week.

Life Remodeled is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a passion for “Remodeling Lives…One Family and Neighborhood at a Time!” To find out more, please visit www.LifeRemodeled.com.