Ford Goes Big to Support First-Ever Detroit Tiny Homes Neighborhood Led By Cass Community Social Services

• Ford is contributing $400,000 toward construction of 25 tiny homes to
  revitalize Detroit neighborhood; Ford Volunteer Corps members to
  assist with projects
• Tiny homes are part of a $1.5 million neighborhood by Cass Community
  Social Services to provide affordable housing for low-and
  moderate-income residents
• Ford contributions are part of a growing community presence for the
  automaker in Detroit and Southeast Michigan, where the company expects
  to invest $20 million this year.

DETROIT–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ford Motor Company is making a major investment in Cass Community Social
Services’ tiny homes project, an innovative Detroit neighborhood
revitalization plan aimed at providing affordable housing for
low-and-moderate income residents.

Ford is contributing $400,000 and Ford Volunteer Corps members are
lending their time – making Ford the lead supporter of the $1.5 million
project. The automaker’s contributions, including those from its
philanthropic arm Ford Motor Company Fund, build on Ford’s commitment to
local community service that began more than 100 years ago.

“Cass Community’s tiny homes project presents an opportunity to make a
big difference in an underserved Detroit neighborhood,” says Jim Vella,
president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “Ford has a
proud legacy of giving back to Detroit and Southeast Michigan, and this
type of transformational project aligns with our mission of making
people’s lives better through innovation.”

The tiny homes project will provide permanent housing to individuals and
couples, including college students, senior citizens, formerly homeless
people and members of the social services staff. When complete, the new
architecturally distinctive community will have 25 tiny homes ranging
from 250 to 400 square feet on 30-by-100 foot lots.

“We are immeasurably grateful to the Ford Motor Company Fund and our
other generous supporters for helping us build Detroit’s first tiny home
community,” said Rev. Faith Fowler, executive director, Cass Community
Social Services. “The Cass Tiny Homes development is so much more than
housing. It is a novel anti-poverty program that will transform the
residents and this neighborhood while it helps to protect the planet.”

Ford, a longtime supporter of Cass Community Social Services, is
investing in the tiny homes project as part of an expanding community
presence for the automaker in Detroit and Southeast Michigan. Ford and
Ford Fund expect to contribute $20 million to local educational, arts,
cultural, diversity, hunger relief and social service organizations this
year – a 70 percent increase from the annual giving amount five years
ago.

Over the last 10 years, Ford and Ford Fund have made community
investments totaling $161 million in the region. Specific examples
include:

• Ford Resource and Engagement Center, an innovative community gathering
  place in Southwest Detroit has provided 85,000 youth and families with
  a range of social and cultural services, including 1.3 million pounds
  of food and helping to complete 6,100 tax returns
• $10 million contribution to Detroit Institute of Arts as part of the
  Grand Bargain program, as well as donations for emergency vehicles,
  Detroit Water Fund and M-1 Rail project
• Lead sponsorship of America’s Thanksgiving Parade and Ford Fireworks
  in Detroit, as well as increased presence at this year’s Detroit Jazz
  Festival
• Commitment to education through Blue Oval Scholarships, Henry Ford
  Academy, career academies, and an innovative technology education
  platform called Ford STEAM Lab
• Ford Volunteer Corps activity that has filled 80,000 volunteer
  positions in more than 8,000 community service projects with
  Detroit-area nonprofits

“Ford has always played a role in serving the communities where we do
business,” says Vella. “We are excited about the future of our region
and look forward to expanding even further in critical areas such as
education, arts and culture.”

To follow the Tiny Home Open House coverage on social media, follow us
on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @fordincommunity and watch an
Instagram story for behind the scenes footage. Cass Community tiny home
news can also be found through #tinyhomedetroit and #fordgivesback.

About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services

Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with community
and global partners to advance driving safety, education and community
life. Ford Motor Company Fund has operated for more than 65 years with
ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company. Ford Driving Skills for Life is
free, interactive, hands-on safety training focused on skill development
and driving techniques, while addressing inexperience, distractions and
impaired driving. Innovation in education is encouraged through Ford
Blue Oval Scholars, Ford Next Generation Learning and other inspiring
programs that enhance high school learning and provide college
scholarships and university grants. The Ford Volunteer Corps enlists
more than 30,000 Ford employees and retirees each year to work on local
projects that strengthen their communities and improve people’s lives in
more than 40 countries around the world. For more information, visit http://community.ford.com.

About Cass Community Social Services

Cass Community Social Services is dedicated to making a profound
difference in the lives of the diverse populations it serves by
providing for basic needs, including affordable
housing, promoting self-reliance and encouraging community
involvement. The agency works with men, women and children with
HIV/AIDS, medical and mental illness, developmental disabilities and/or
substance abuse. Cass utilizes 7,000 volunteers annually.
Every night, more than 300 homeless men, women and children stay in a
Cass facility. To learn more about Cass Community Social Services,
please visit www.casscommunity.org.

For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and
video, visit www.media.ford.com.

Contacts

Ford Motor Company Fund
Todd Nissen
313.322.4898
tnissen@ford.com
or
Cass
Community Social Services
Marcy Hayes, C&B Scene
248.336.8360,
248.408.1550
scene@candbscene.com