About Habitat’s Gulf Recovery Effort

What is Habitat’s Gulf Recovery Effort?
The Gulf Recovery Effort is Habitat for Humanity International’s response to the destruction caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 when the two storms struck the southeast U.S. coast of the Gulf of Mexico. While Habitat for Humanity cannot be the answer to all low-income housing needs created by the hurricanes, Habitat expects to assist thousands of people and to work together in partnership with other organizations to serve as a catalyst in the rebuilding process.

How is Habitat getting the job done?
This unprecedented disaster is too large in scope for any one agency to address alone. In recognition of that fact, Habitat for Humanity continues to build on existing alliances and proactively works to include the support of other organizations. Appropriate collaboration maximizes limited resources, prevents duplication of efforts and, ultimately, provides more homes than would otherwise be possible. Habitat is working with many entities for the common good of the hurricane victims and new partnerships and collaborations continue to emerge.

Who are the families Habitat is working with?
As often is the case in natural disasters, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita took their largest toll on neighborhoods and communities least able financially to recover from devastating damage. That makes Habitat for Humanity, which typically builds with families making between 25 and 50 percent of the median income in an area, a natural fit with the need. Because Habitat homes are built largely with volunteers and with “sweat equity” from partner families – and because no profit is made on the homes – they are affordable to low-income families.

Does Habitat’s Gulf recovery effort need more volunteers?
Yes! In the aftermath of the storms, more than 32,000 volunteers from around the country registered online with Habitat to offer their labor and construction skills in the rebuilding effort. In 2008, more than 5,000 volunteers worked at build sites from Alabama to Texas building homes along the Gulf Coast during the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project. However, as Habitat continues building in the affected areas, the need for help is ongoing. Hundreds of volunteers are still needed each day. We invite you to learn more about the rebuilding efforts of Habitat affiliates along the Gulf Coast, and encourage you to contact these affiliates directly in order to volunteer.