Realtors Housing Relief Fund Distributing To Victims’ Families

WASHINGTON, DC — More than half of the funds contributed and pledged to the Realtors Housing Relief Fund have already been distributed to pay the housing costs of families that lost a breadwinner in the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The fund has paid out $3,664,265.33 to pay the rents and mortgages for 551 families living in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Volunteer Realtors in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia are processing applications as quickly as possible in order to provide immediate relief to families in need. Realtors are delivering checks to families within five days after applications are approved.

The fund, which was established by the National Association of Realtors the day following the attacks, has received $6,807,975 to date in pledges and donations from individual realtors, realtor organizations, real estate companies, and the general public.

Immediate families or households of deceased or missing victims of the attacks, including those in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, passengers and airline employees on the four airliners including the airplane that crashed in Pennsylvania, and emergency, fire, and police personnel are eligible for assistance. Recipients must be US citizens or legally admitted residents of the United States.

“I am very proud to say that realtors were one of the very first to respond and the response has been truly magnificent. We are doing our very best to meet our pledge to President Bush and to the nation that we will do all we can to see that no victim’s family will lose the place they call home,” said NAR President Richard A. Mendenhall.

Victims’ families in need of assistance should call 800-874-6500 or access an online applications at relief.realtor.org. Realtors and others interested in contributing to the fund can call the number above, visit the fund’s website, or send checks or money orders to Realtors Housing Relief Fund, c/o National Association of Realtors, 430 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. Donations can be made by check, credit card, or money order. No cash can be accepted. All contributions to the fund are tax deductible and every penny will be spent to help the victims’ families.

The National Association of Realtors is America’s largest professional association, representing more than 760,000 members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Twenty-two Connecticut families have received funding thus far. Connecticut residents who’ve lost a breadwinner in the September 11 attacks should contact Lisa Governale at 800-335-4862 to apply for funding.