Two Years After Nation’s Worst Natural Disaster

Habitat For Humanity Shares Amazing Story Of Revitalization Hurricane Katrina Anniversary Update Tell Your Viewers the Real Recovery Story that Is Still Going on the for People of the Gulf Coast More than $81 billion damage and 1,800 lives. Hurricane Katrina was the most costly natural disaster in U.S. history. Event today, an amazing story of cleanup and revitalization continues. On the second anniversary of the “storm of the century,” Habitat for Humanity is updating Gulf Coast revitalization efforts that will both shock and inspire your viewers. Politics Aside, Did You Know That: Hurricane Katrina left more than 60,000 people homeless More than 50,000 volunteers have worked on Habitat Gulf Coast recovery efforts More than 1,100 Habitat Homes have been built More than 1,000 volunteers a day are working on Gulf Coast Habitat projects You’re viewers will hear form Kenneth J. Meinert, responsible for the global homebuilding ministry’s rebuilding efforts in hurricanes Katrina- and Rita-impacted areas along the Gulf Coast. He will be joined by Alaina Harris, who was evacuated to the Super Dome during Katrina but is moving into her new home on August 29th. Alana continues to volunteer with New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity as a leader of the Women Build project. Habitat For Humanity 2nd Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina SMT It was two years ago today and cost more than $81 billion in damage and 1,800 lives. Hurricane Katrina was the most costly natural disaster in U.S. history. Even today, the amazing story of cleanup and revitalization continues. Habitat for Humanity’s Ken Meinert joins us with New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity homeowner Alana Harris, who was displaced by Hurricane Katrina, to talk about of the “storm of the century,” Gulf Coast revitalization efforts and what still has to be done. Ken Meinert, Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity International named Kenneth J. Meinert as senior vice president responsible for the global homebuilding ministry’s rebuilding efforts in hurricanes Katrina- and Rita-impacted areas along the Gulf Coast. In directing Habitat’s recovery efforts, Meinert and his team engaged Habitat affiliates and strategic partner organizations across North America to plan and execute this important initiative. Accomplished in the construction industry, Meinert has more than 25 years of operations, marketing and general management experience for large multinationals in Canada, the United States and Europe. He owns production and construction companies, and recently served as president and chief operating officer of KML Engineered Homes Inc., a private design, manufacturing and construction company. Meinert led the effort to help rebuild the infrastructure for Habitat affiliates hit hard by hurricanes Katrina and Rita and, using Habitat’s time-tested homeownership program to support their ongoing work with families in need. Meinert and his team has also reached out to other builders, NGOs and partner organizations to utilize innovative approaches to building within the region. An eight-year member of the national board for Habitat for Humanity Canada, Meinert served as the organization’s chair. He began his association with Habitat in 1997 when he volunteered with and donated building materials for a blitz home build in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Meinert has also served as president and CEO of CGC Inc., a leading manufacturer of ceiling and gypsum construction materials, and vice president of marketing of U.S. Gypsum Co. in Chicago. Alana Harris, homeowner Earl Christopher, son, 16 Jonathan Allen, son, 11 My name is Alana Harris. I am the dedicated mother of two amazing boys, Earl Christopher, a 16-year-old tuba player with the St. Augustine Marching 100 Band, and Jonathan Allen, 11-year-old star wide receiver of the Cleary Rebels football team. I am employed by Lowe’s Home Improvement where I spearheaded the Lowe’s Heroes Team, a community outreach group. I have served as booking agent/consultant for the Hot 8 Brass Band. My life work is to raise my beautiful sons and to use my talents, skills, and education for the betterment of our community. I have always dreamed of owning a home of my own. Habitat for Humanity and the dedicated sponsors have helped my dream become a reality. I am committed to my partnership with Habitat beyond the completion of the partner/family program. This house is a measure of my success and the pursuit of a life-long dream I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and dedication by every volunteer. This is no greater joy than the experience of providing a swafe haven and a place to call home for my children. I wish I could take my heart and transform it into words. Thank you all and let’s continue to rebuild New Orleans one nail at a time. –Alana’s statement from the wall-raising program, March 31, 2007 Alana’s house has been dedicated and the family will move in before the 29th of August. Alana and her sons were evacuated from the Superdome to Atlanta. It was a tough time for them and they were anxious to return to New Orleans. Alana continues to volunteer with New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity as a leader of the Women Build project. Attached are key statistics about Habitat’s program, including: More than 1,100 homes complete or under construction More than 1,000 volunteers needed per week Habitat is working with partner organizations to repair homes, etc. NEW ORLEANS, La. New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity will have 198 homes under construction or completed and will give tours of their developments in Musicians Village and the Upper Ninth Ward. For more information, visit www.habitat-nola.org . HAMMOND, La. Ginger Ford Habitat for Humanity will break ground on a home with a hurricane-displaced family on Wednesday, Aug. 29. Two other homes also will be under construction. For further information contact Leigh Ann Lanaux at 985-542-6866 or Blair Edwards at 985-542-6866 or 985-517-0910. HATTIESBURG, Miss. Hattiesburg Area Habitat for Humanity will host the 10th NBA-sponsored build with players raising walls on Wednesday, Aug. 22. LAKE CHARLES, La. On Saturday, Aug. 18, Habitat for Humanity Calcasieu Area will participate in the Southwest Louisiana Evacuee Summit, which will provide information on housing options to hurricane-displaced individuals. The Summit will take place in a mobile home park still filled with FEMA trailers. In late September, two years after the eye of Hurricane Rita passed over the area, Calcasieu Habitat will be working on five homes with hurricane-displaced families. Among them will be the affiliate’s first Women Build project and the first Habitat home in Cameron. Hurricane Rita did not leave a single structure standing in this small town. To comply with new building codes, Habitat will build the house on a 13-foot-poured concrete pier. For further information contact Judy Tinker at 337-497-0129. BEAUMONT, Texas At the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Rita, Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson County will have five homes under construction with hurricane-displaced families. On Saturday, Sept. 8, Habitat of Jefferson County will begin an Apostles Build, which will bring together 12 churches to build a home in 12 weeks. Two houses in Sabine Pass will be built 13 feet off the ground to avoid future flooding, a first for the Beaumont affiliate. The affiliate also will be rebuilding two houses on land where families lost their homes one in Port Arthur and one in Beaumont. For further information contact Uliana Trylowsky at 409-832-5853. MERIDIAN, Miss. On Sunday, Aug. 26, Lauderdale County Habitat for Humanity will dedicate Habitat homes with Stanley and Shavonka White, who lost their New Orleans home, and with Alaine Preston who lost her home in Picayune, Miss. The dedication and a celebratory watermelon cutting will take place at 2 p.m. at 2324 45th Ave. For additional information contact Fonda Rush at 601-4
85-4992. MOBILE, Ala. Habitat for Humanity in Mobile County will commemorate the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina on Wednesday, Aug. 29, by dedicating three homes in their Fort Lake Trace neighborhood. The dedication will take place at 3 p.m. at 6700 Jaimee Circle East in Grand Bay. For additional information contact Myra Evans at 251-476-7171. SLIDELL, La. East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity is nearing completion on 19 houses in partnership with hurricane-displaced families. For further information contact Kimberley Fraser at 985-639-0656. THIBODAUX, La.Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity will have 20 homes under construction on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and will dedicate their 100th house on Thursday, Sept. 13, at 291 Bon Jovi Blvd. in Gray. Founded in 1996, the affiliate had built 28 homes in the years leading up to Hurricane Katrina. For further information contact Lisa Smith at 985-447-6999 Ext. 227. COVINGTON, La. – St. Tammany West Habitat for Humanity will have completed 24 modular homes and new homeowner families are expected to be moving in by the end of the month. Habitat also has a new development under construction called, Faith Village, which includes six homes funded by the faith communities. For more information, visit http://www.habitatstw.org/”>www.habitatstw.org . Progress after hurricanes Katrina and Rita Habitat for Humanity’s hurricane-response program was implemented to help low-income, hurricane-affected families in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Alabama build permanent housing. The program began immediately after Hurricane Katrina and expanded after Hurricane Rita. Construction 1st Habitat hurricane-response house began construction in early October 2005, just six weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit 500th hurricane-response home began construction in November 2006 700th hurricane-response home began construction in January 2007 More than 1,100 Habitat hurricane-response homes built or are under construction Before the storms, 57 Habitat homes constructed per year in the region after the storms, 52 Habitat homes begin construction per month More than 70,000 volunteers have worked through Habitat for Humanity to carry out recovery efforts Partnerships Habitat is working with other organizations to help low-income families in the region. Habitat’s ongoing partnership with Church World Service is helping to fund the repair of 600 homes for low-income families over a three-year period.Habitat for Humanity and Church World Service home-repair partnership was given the “Award of Excellence” by the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (April 19, 2007) Habitat is working with The Salvation Army to increase building capacity, provide housing for volunteers and make homes along the Gulf Coast more affordable. Lutheran Social Services and other Katrina Aid Today consortium members are also actively engaged in helping families find appropriate housing solutions, including Habitat homes. Habitat volunteers have also helped remove debris and clean more than 2,500 homes in preparation for rehabilitation. Additional Factsthe work in the Gulf Coast continues as Habitat continues to help families build homes in 1,600 communities across the United States and Canada, and in nearly 100 countries around the world. Habitat for Humanity was the first home builder to start construction in Mobile, Ala., after the storm. Work began in November 2005, and the first family moved into its new home in March of 2006. In mid-November 2006, just outside of Mobile, walls were raised on the milestone 500th Habitat for Humanity hurricane-recovery house. In 2006, New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity received 12 percent of all New Orleans permits for single-family residential new construction.To accelerate construction when subcontractors are in short supply and a large number of volunteers are difficult to assemble, Habitat for Humanity also uses modular homes. In 2006, some 1,500 volunteers ranging from ages 16 to 73 logged 10,500 hours building with Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West near New Orleans. As a result, 20 St. Tammany families celebrated Christmas in their own homes.On May 21 in St. Bernard Parish, La., Habitat for Humanity raised walls on its 1,000th hurricane-response home with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn. Habitat also raised walls on its 1,001st home to signify the ongoing, long-term effort. The Carters also announced the Gulf Coast as the location of the 2008 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project where thousands of volunteers will help to build Habitat for Humanity homes. Habitat for Humanity has built its infrastructure along the Gulf Coast and currently requires 1,000 volunteers per week. Volunteers can register and donations can be made online at www.habitat.org , or by calling 1-800-Habitat (422-4828). Habitat for Humanity Hurricane Recovery Partnerships & Collaborations The catastrophic housing needs resulting from hurricanes Katrina and Rita led Habitat for Humanity to bring together diverse organizations to rally around the cause of rebuilding the Gulf Coast while creating affordable, sustainable housing solutions across the region. Collaborative relationships help maximize limited resources, prevent duplication of efforts and ultimately provide more homes than would otherwise be possible. Habitat for Humanity has sought out partnerships in the following areas: Family Development and Case Management The Salvation Army and Lutheran Social Services case management partnerships refer and pre-screen potential Habitat homeowners, bringing buyer-ready families to the local Habitat affiliates. The partnerships have resulted in 600 qualified applications being sent to the Gulf Coast affiliates. The Salvation Army has also contributed more than $1.5 million in down payment assistance to 150 Habitat for Humanity homeowners. Additional partnerships with the American Baptist Churches and Disciples of Christ Churches have also provided down payment assistance to 75 Habitat partner families. Existing Housing Habitats innovative partnerships with Church World Service and Rebuilding Together have helped clean up and repair existing homes for families affected by the storms. o Habitat committed $4 million to Church World Service (CWS), a faith-based relief, development and refugee-assistance volunteer organization, to assist in the repair of 600 hurricane damaged homes in a two-year period. In the first year, Church World Service distributed $2,600,000 to more than 30 Long-Term Recovery Committee community groups and funded 415 total projects for hurricane recovery in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Habitat’s partnership with Church World Service was recognized with the “Award of Excellence” by the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster in April, 2007. o Habitat is supporting Rebuilding Together, the nations largest volunteer-based organization revitalizing and preserving homes for elderly, disabled and low-income homeowners. The support includes assisting with the operation of Gulf Coast Rebuilding Together affiliates, facilitates relationship building between Rebuilding Together and Habitat affiliates, and renovates hurricane-damaged homes for an estimated 200 families per year. New Affordable Housing Alliance Habitat helped bring together the Gulf Coast Rebuilding Alliance composed of the Enterprise Corporation of the Delta/Hope Community Credit Union (ECD/Hope), a major regional community development lender, and four of the nations premier housing and community development organizations Enterprise Community Partners, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC); NeighborWorks America and Habitat for Humanity International. The alliance promotes affordable and mixed-income housing in Gulf Coast rebuilding. The GCRA is developing the capacity of local communities to address their housing needs, and building and advancing public policy associated with hurricane recovery and affordable housing Notable accomplishments of the GCRA include providing input to the states of Louisiana and Mississippi on their aff
ordable housing rebuilding strategies. The group’s input helped shape the structure of the Mississippi Phase II homeowner compensation plans, the Renter Subsidy program for small property landlords, and potential subsidy programs for developers of mixed-income housing, and public housing rebuilding program. Habitat for Humanity and NeighborWorks America Habitat is working with NeighborWorks to offer a multi-state housing resource counseling operation to assist homeowners with the difficult decisions of whether to sell, rehabilitate or replace destroyed homes; obtain and leverage financial and mortgage workout assistance from government, lender and philanthropic sources; and prepare first time homebuyers for homeownership. Joint Land Development The GCRA has assembled nonprofit development partners to facilitate the acquisition and development of large, multi-family, mixed-income, mixed-use properties that Habitat could not undertake alone. The groups will lend their expertise to develop affordable housing in the Gulf Coast. Habitat and two NeighborWorks Organizations (DASH for the Gulf Coast and The Resource Foundation) have been collaborating with local Habitat affiliates in land purchases and developments. In addition, Habitat for Humanity of Mobile, Ala., has a joint development under way with the Volunteers of America which will add additional homes for hurricane-affected families. Financial Training Partnership programs with Consumer Credit Counseling Services of New Greater Orleans and Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Louisiana have provided pre- and post-purchase counseling and financial education for Gulf Coast Habitat applicants. For more information or to find out how you can help, go to www.Habitat.org