- “Neighbors” spot, which debuted today on Thanksgiving, features four veterans who secured housing through communities in Built for Zero
- In addition to nationwide efforts, Rocket Mortgage and Community Solutions seek to reduce the number of veterans experiencing homelessness in Detroit by 50%
DETROIT, November 28, 2019 – Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans today launched a campaign titled “Neighbors,” which highlights the stories of four U.S. military veterans who successfully transitioned from experiencing homelessness into housing through Built for Zero, an initiative that assists communities by coordinating resources, methodology and technology to reduce the number of those experiencing homelessness.
The program is a nationwide effort created by Community Solutions and supported by Quicken Loans.
The campaign aims to generate awareness around veterans experiencing homelessness, the conditions that cause it and how Built for Zero brings modern solutions to a complex problem. The national television spots for the Neighbors campaign debuted during America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit and the Thanksgiving parade in New York City. The spot will also air during the football games in Detroit and Dallas.
“At any given time, nearly 40,000 veterans across our country are experiencing homelessness,” said Jay Farner, CEO of Quicken Loans. “We hope this campaign builds awareness around an urgent national crisis and shows America that it is possible to solve it. Communities are creating lasting change through Built for Zero, and we are proud to support this progress – especially in our hometown of Detroit.”
The 30-second and 60-second Neighbors spots were produced by the Quicken Loans creative team, and encourage viewers to visit AHomeForEveryVet.org. The site provides additional information on Built for Zero and features long-form videos of the veterans featured in the ads – sharing more in-depth versions of their touching stories. The title song of the Neighbors spots, “People in Your Neighborhood,” was sung by high school senior and Detroit Youth Choir member Victoria Cooksey.
“Communities are proving it is possible to end veteran homelessness, when partners come together around a shared vision of getting to zero.”
Built for Zero aids communities in deploying proven methodologies to reduce homelessness in their community, beginning with veteran and chronic homelessness. The national initiative allows communities to drive improvements to their local homeless response system, which helps people experiencing homelessness receive access to housing and assistance. Through Built for Zero, communities seek to create a system where people experiencing homelessness is never more than the number of people they can routinely house in a month, a milestone knows as “functional zero.”
“Communities are proving it is possible to end veteran homelessness, when partners come together around a shared vision of getting to zero,” said Rosanne Haggerty, President of Community Solutions. “We are proud to partner with Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans, which has dedicated $15 million for this effort. Their passion around raising awareness, along with rolling up their sleeves to help in the work is greatly appreciated.”
Currently, more than 80 communities across the country are enrolled in Built for Zero, over half of which have reduced the number of people experiencing homelessness. Overall, 10 communities have achieved functional zero for veteran homelessness, and three have achieved functional zero for chronic homelessness, with more on the way. Communities in Built for Zero have placed nearly 125,000 individuals into housing.
Rocket Mortgage and Community Solutions have intensified efforts in Detroit, partnering with several Detroit-based nonprofits, agencies and organizations to achieve a 50% reduction in the number of veterans experiencing homelessness. The partnership is working through the Continuum of Care to secure up to 125 additional housing units for veterans.
As the nation’s largest mortgage lender, Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans understands the power and importance of housing stability, and this campaign is a continuation of its ongoing commitment to veterans. The company has a veteran hiring team comprised exclusively of veterans, a “Tour of Duty” program to aid veterans in the transition from active service to civilian life, and is consistently recognized as a top employer for veterans by Military Friendly, the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and Military Times.
The Rocket Mortgage Classic, Detroit’s first-ever PGA TOUR event, raised more than $200,000 for Built for Zero through its Shot for Heroes activation. The activation has raised $1.2 million overall for veteran-focused nonprofits, including during the past five years as part of the Quicken Loans National. Additionally, Rocket Mortgage team members have provided 30,000 hours of volunteer work to veteran non-profit organizations since 2010.
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About Community Solutions
Community Solutions is a nonprofit that works to achieve a lasting end to homelessness that leaves no one behind. We lead Built for Zero, a movement of more than 70 communities across the country redefining what is possible in the movement to end homelessness. By harnessing the power of real-time, person-specific data and problem-solving skills from other sectors, more than half of those cities and counties have achieved reductions in the number of people experiencing chronic and veteran homelessness. Eleven of those communities have ended homelessness for a population by reaching a standard called Functional Zero. Learn more at. www.community.solutions
About Quicken Loans/Rocket Mortgage
Detroit-based Quicken Loans is the nation’s largest home mortgage lender. The company closed nearly half a trillion dollars of mortgage volume across all 50 states from 2013 through 2018. In late 2015 Quicken Loans introduced Rocket Mortgage, the first fully digital mortgage experience. Today, 98% of all home loans originated by Quicken Loans utilize Rocket Mortgage Technology. For more information and company news visit QuickenLoans.com/press-room.
