Long Island Board of REALTORS® Celebrates National Homeownership Month with Community Partnerships and Volunteer Efforts

In recognition of National Homeownership Month and National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 2024 REALTORS® Are Good Neighbors Volunteer Days, Long Island Board of REALTORS® (LIBOR) has partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Long Island (HFHLI) and Rebuilding Together Long Island (RTLI) to help build and repair homes within our local communities. At the heart of LIBOR's mission is the commitment to making the American Dream of homeownership accessible to all.

On June 5, 2024, dedicated LIBOR members volunteered their time and skills alongside HFHLI site supervisors to install fencing and perform ground clean-up in Brentwood. This effort was in preparation for an affordable home build for a deserving family, one of the first 3-D printed homes constructed by HFHLI. This collaboration highlights LIBOR's ongoing dedication to helping Long Islanders achieve homeownership and making a lasting impact in our communities.

The REALTOR® volunteer effort coincided with the NAR 2024 REALTOR® Volunteer Days, a nationwide initiative uniting REALTOR® associations, brokerages, and members in community service projects. This weeklong event is part of the REALTORS® Are Good Neighbors campaign, demonstrating how REALTORS® make a real difference by serving their neighbors and strengthening communities.

LIBOR proudly supports HFHLI's mission to foster sustainable and transformative development across Long Island. By providing affordable and stable homes, HFHLI enables families to allocate more resources towards essential needs such as food, medicine, child care, and education, thereby establishing long-term financial security. In addition to volunteer labor, LIBOR contributed $2,500 to help construct the new home. Since 2004, LIBOR has sponsored the building of 18 Habitat for Humanity homes across Long Island.

Additionally, on June 18, 2024, LIBOR members volunteered with RTLI to build a wheelchair-accessible ramp and landscape the yard of a homeowner in need in Massapequa. The new ramp will allow the elderly homeowner to move freely in and out of their home, and the landscaped yard will provide a welcoming space for the family to enjoy. Earlier this year, LIBOR also made a $3,000 donation to RTLI, supporting their mission to rebuild the homes and lives of people in need. RTLI's dedicated volunteers provide a wide range of services, including plumbing and electrical repairs, yard work, carpentry, roof repair, and wheelchair ramp construction—all at no cost to the homeowners.

"LIBOR is proud to continue our long-standing partnerships with both Habitat for Humanity of Long Island and Rebuilding Together Long Island,” said Kevin Leatherman, LIBOR President. “These partnerships exemplify LIBOR’s commitment to creating affordable housing, building strong communities, and fostering pride in homeownership throughout Long Island.”

National Homeownership Month, designated to celebrate the significance of homeownership and its impact on American families, communities, and the economy, marks its 22nd anniversary this June. Initiated as a weeklong recognition in 1995, it was proclaimed a month-long celebration in June 2002 under President George W. Bush.

The Biden administration issued a Proclamation on National Homeownership Month 2024, calling upon "the people of this Nation to safeguard the American Dream by ensuring that everyone has access to an affordable home in a community of their choice."

“Every family deserves the opportunity to reap the benefits of homeownership—from building generational wealth to creating lifelong memories,” said Doreen Spagnuolo, LIBOR CEO. “In addition to partnering with these exceptional organizations dedicated to expanding homeownership opportunities, LIBOR members help consumers navigate the homeownership process, providing essential support and serving as trusted advisors through one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.”

For REALTORS® across the country, National Homeownership Month allows them to raise awareness about the benefits of owning a home and the importance of making homeownership more attainable for all Americans.