"The Home Depot Foundation is pleased to be a funding partner with Penquis Community Action Program in the Replacement Housing Program. We invest our grant resources in nonprofit organizations that address critical housing needs in local communities," says Kelly Caffarelli, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation.

Replacement housing is made affordable by a combination of cost-effective building, low-interest mortgage monies and grant subsidies. The Home Depot Foundation grant will be used to bridge the gap between what the owner can borrow and the cost of the project.

Grant monies will help to replace pre-1976 mobile homes that cannot be repaired or are not cost-effective to repair. "Older mobile homes were not designed for northern climates, nor were they constructed with long-term durability in mind," says Stephen Mooers, director of Housing Services for Penquis CAP. "Many are firetraps. They are well past their useful life expectancy and have depreciated to the point that many have essentially no market value." The new homes will provide families with safe and affordable housing and the opportunity to build assets.

Individuals interested in the Replacement Housing Program should contact Carlton Pinney at Penquis CAP, 973-3547.

The Home Depot Foundation invests in nonprofit organizations that are in the business of building better communities. The Home Depot and many of the suppliers who help fill Home Depot's shelves contribute to The Home Depot Foundation to help fulfill their shared vision of creating stronger, healthier neighborhoods. The Foundation focuses its efforts in the areas of affordable housing, at-risk youth, the environment and disaster preparedness. See www.homedepotfoundation.org for more information.