VIENNA, Va., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Home Properties (NYSE:HME) today announced that it is in the final stages of implementing a company-wide fire prevention safety initiative. As of January 2010, each Home Properties apartment and townhome will be equipped with its own fire extinguisher. The safety initiative is one of the largest prevention programs to be implemented by Home Properties to date. "We're really excited about this new safety initiative," said Home Properties' Environmental Health & Safety Director, Mark Davies. "It works on so many different levels. Our focus is to implement a program that will be truly beneficial for our residents and communities. We closely evaluated industry statistics, as well as our own experiences, and identified the tremendous impact that residential fire can have on everyone, especially our residents." According to Davies, part of the initial investigation conducted by the Company also included an evaluation of a number of Home Properties' apartment communities that already had residential fire extinguishers. "We polled some of our existing communities about their experiences with their in-unit fire extinguishers. We found that a number of residents in those communities had been successful in putting out a small fire at some point. After taking a closer look at the results of the survey and some additional statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), we were convinced that our investment in this safety initiative would have a significant impact on our residents, especially as it relates to fire prevention and loss of property." As a result of further research, Home Properties determined that the best placement of fire extinguishers would be within the kitchen area of each apartment and townhome. The safety program was officially launched at the end of October; and despite having a large volume of fire extinguishers to install, the program has seen a quick implementation. "We purchased approximately 34,000 fire extinguishers and now have about 75% of the installations completed," added Davies. "We expect to have all of the fire extinguishers installed in every single apartment and townhome by January 2010." According to Davies, Home Properties' residents have really embraced the program. "We haven't had any complaints from our residents. Everything has been very positive," Davies commented. "I think a lot of that has to do with our communication efforts. As part of the program, we distributed a frequently asked question (FAQ) document that was specifically designed to address any internal questions from our property management teams prior to the beginning of the installation process. The document was designed so they would be able to address any resident questions or concerns. We also notified all of our residents in advance that they would be receiving a fire extinguisher. This entire initiative was coupled with a strong marketing effort focused on education about residential kitchen fires, the impact of such events, and how to prevent them. I think that has really helped everyone understand why fire extinguishers and proper kitchen safety practices are so important." Residents can expect to see some more helpful safety initiatives introduced in the coming months. "We are working on two additional initiatives," said Davies. "The first initiative is kind of unique. We are in the process of developing a candle safety program. We are learning more about flameless candles to help enlighten our residents about a safer candle option. With the holidays approaching, the time is perfect to start talking about these new LED candles. The candles smell just like the real deal, and they're a safe and cost-effective alternative to traditional candles. The second initiative is one we've already started to implement. We are in the process of integrating a new renters' insurance option as part of our leasing program. It's really a peace-of-mind initiative that is truly a win-win for everyone." Home Properties is a publicly traded apartment real estate investment trust that owns, operates, develops, acquires and rehabilitates apartment communities primarily in selected Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Florida markets. Currently, Home Properties operates 108 communities containing 37,107 apartment units. Of these, 35,957 units in 106 communities are owned directly by the Company; 868 units are partially owned and managed by the Company as general partner, and 282 units are managed for other owners. For more information, visit Home Properties' Web site at http://www.homeproperties.com/. DATASOURCE: Home Properties CONTACT: Charis W. Warshof, Vice President, Investor Relations of Home Properties, +1-585-295-4237 Web Site: http://www.homeproperties.com/

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