Freeport McMoRan and NOAHH begin work in Plaquemines Parish
Freeport McMoRan in partnership with New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH) and the Plaquemines Parish Chapter of NOAHH today has raised the walls on the first New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity home to be built in Plaquemines Parish.
“We are proud to be building in Plaquemines Parish which suffered so much devastation from Hurricane Katrina,” stated Jim Pate, Executive Director, New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. “Thankfully we have great partners such as Freeport McMoRan whose funding has made this home possible.”
The location of this first Habitat home will be in the Hayes Subdivision in Port Sulphur, an area heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina. “The residents of Plaquemines Parish expressed an interest in having NOAHH begin to build homes in the area to provide the opportunity for affordable home ownership. We are all too glad to start building,” stated Pate.
Construction on this three bedroom, approximately 1,100 square foot home has a tentative completion date at the end of July. All Habitat Partner Families, be chosen on the basis of need for shelter, willingness to partner and family finances. Each three-bedroom, one-bath house is worth $85,000 to $90,000, but families pay roughly $75,000 for them through a 30-year, no-interest loan. Families contribute 350 hours of sweat equity in lieu of a down payment.
Families wanting to apply to become a partner family should contact the Family Services Department of NOAHH at 504-861-2077 or visit the website to begin the application process.
As is customery with all Habitat homes, volunteers are vital to the construction of the home. The use of volunteers allows for the home to be offered at such a low price to the partner families. Anyone interested in volunteering to work on the building crew should contact NOAHH’s Volunteer Services at 504-861-4212 to schedule their time. We ask that volunteers agree to work full-day increments. The day begins at 7:30 with a safety orienntation and ends at 2:30. Construction is anticipated to occur Tuesday through Saturday throughout the building process.
NOAHH has set a goal to build 250 homes in the greater New Orleans area in 2007 and 1,500 homes over the next 3-5 years.
