New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity to Participate in Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project Gulf Coast 2008

The HCA Foundation on Behalf of Tulane Medical Center

to Support NOAHH’s Efforts

New Orleans, LA (March 6, 2008)— New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH) will celebrate it’s 25^th year of service in the metropolitan New Orleans Area by participating in the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project with Habitat for Humanity International.

 

“To witness the devastation left behind by Hurricane Katrina and the levee breaches firsthand was overwhelming,” stated Jim Pate, Executive Director of New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. “After two decades of working in this community, we saw the need for low-income housing drastically increase post-Katrina and realized our efforts must also.”

 

During the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project Week (May 11 – 16, 2008), NOAHH will blitz build (start to finish) 10 homes; finish and dedicate 25 homes (homes started since January 1, 2008); and start 25 homes (start to dry-in status) during the week. The homes will be spread throughout the Upper Ninth Ward, Westbank and the Hollygrove areas of New Orleans.

 

Hundreds of volunteers from around the country will participate and experience a Habitat build as never experienced before. The week will be full of work, fun and community-building as future homeowners come in contact with the volunteers as their homes are built.

 

The HCA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of HCA, has signed on as the first NOAHH “Apprentice” partner for the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in New Orleans. HCA is one of the nation's leading providers of healthcare services with hospitals located throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. Since 2000, HCA has invested nearly three million dollars in Habitat for Humanity, building 49 homes across the United States. Nearly 10,000 HCA employees have volunteered in the effort, taking a one-day break and contributing more than 80,000 volunteer hours from their hospital duties to help hard-working families achieve their dream of home ownership. “HCA’s support of our local efforts means a great deal to our affiliate and our partner families who are waiting to move into their new homes. We appreciate their generosity and support,” stated Pate.

 

"We are also especially pleased to welcome President and Mrs. Carter to the Gulf Coast for this monumental effort," said Mel Lagarde, president of HCA's Delta Division. "The HCA Foundation on behalf of Tulane Medical Center is honored to be able to participate as one of the lead sponsors and we look forward to sharing this occasion with our employees as they continue their support and service to Habitat and the families who will benefit from this special effort."

 

 

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed or damaged more than half-a-million houses along the Gulf Coast. According to a 2007 RAND Corporation study, 72 percent of all houses in Orleans Parish, Louisiana which includes New Orleans, were damaged. This does not include the parishes of St. Bernard, St. Charles, Plaquemines or Jefferson which NOAHH also serves.

 

“Our commitment to the New Orleans area has never been stronger,” added Pate. “There is much to be done and we are committed to doing our part to help displaced New Orleanians.”

 

NOAHH’s building efforts are concentrated on the Upper Ninth Ward, Hollygrove, Central City, St. Bernard Parish, Jefferson Parish and Plaquemines Parish. These neighborhoods are all in need of housing opportunities and through key partnerships, NOAHH is able to make home ownership affordable for many families.

 

Since the devastation of the city by wind and water during Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent levee failures, New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH) has become the leading homebuilder and one of the foremost forces of recovery of the city. Post Katrina, NOAHH has built over 100 houses, with 160 more under construction. With a goal of completing 180 houses this year, NOAHH is growing at an exponential rate. Over 60,000 volunteers have flocked to New Orleans to do their part. In 2006, NOAHH pulled 12% of all single family residential new construction building permits (60 pulled out of total 513) – the largest single applicant both for-profit and non-profit.

 

About  The HCA Foundation

The HCA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of HCA, one of the nation's leading providers of healthcare services, which operates 169 hospitals and 108 freestanding surgery centers in 20 states and England (including eight hospitals and nine freestanding surgery centers operated through equity method joint ventures) with approximately 186,000 employees. HCA’s Delta Division operates hospitals in Louisiana and Mississippi, including Tulane Medical Center, Tulane-Lakeside Hospital, Lakeview Regional Medical Center (Covington, Louisiana) and Garden Park Medical Center (Gulfport, Mississippi). The HCA Foundation's mission is to promote health and well being and support childhood and youth development. In partnership with the employees of HCA, The HCA Foundation seeks to accomplish its mission by providing leadership, service and financial support to non-profit organizations effectively engaged in addressing local needs.

 

25 Years of Building with the Carters
Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, have been helping Habitat for Humanity shine the spotlight on the need for affordable housing since 1984. That year, the Carters led a small team of Habitat volunteers to New York City to help renovate a six-story apartment building with 19 families in need of decent, affordable shelter. A quarter of a century later, that modest effort has grown into an internationally-recognized annual event that has taken place in communities around the world.

 

About Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of elimina ting poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built more than 250,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org.

 

About New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity

New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH), an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. NOAHH builds new houses in partnership with sponsors, volunteers, communities, and homeowner families to eliminate poverty housing in the New Orleans area while serving as a catalyst to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Since its inception in 1983 NOAHH has built over 200 new homes for low-income families in need of adequate shelter. In the next five years, NOAHH plans to build 1,500 homes in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines Parishes. www.habitat-nola.org