How You Can Help Rebuilding Together's
Rebuilding Efforts in the Gulf Coast

The 2005 devastation in New Orleans and the continuing obstacles to residents wanting to reclaim their lives. Join us to help rebuild this great city.

Rebuilding Together's national office has pledged to help rebuild 1,000 homes in the Gulf region and have identified appropriate projects and determined how out-of-town teams can help. New Orleans work sites will still be difficult work situations; not all homes have electricity or water, and hospital facilities are limited. RT is coordinating rebuilding projects in other Gulf cities as well.

The remaining schedule for 2009 Gulf Coast rebuilding is as follows:

Rebuilding Together requests each volunteer contribute funds to for the logistical expenses of a Rebuild 1000 work week. The expenses include housing, food, insurance, t-shirts, safety equipment and daily transportation to and from the worksite.

These costs range between $150 and $250 per person per week, depending on location. Volunteers may choose to use the housing options provided by the host affiliate or may secure alternative accommodations for the work week at their own expense. Acadiana and Calcasieu projects' participation fee is $150, while New Orleans projects' fee is $250. Arranging your own housing will add to your trip costs, as well as create logistical challenges for transportation to-and-from the work site.

RT has so far mobilized almost 16,000 volunteers to repair and rebuild 552 Gulf houses and nonprofit facilities. The total market value of these projects is $30,000,000. And the total market value of the volunteer labor is $10,000,000. These projects occurred in Acadiana, LA, Baton Rouge, LA, Calcasieu, LA, New Orleans, LA, St. Landry, LA, Harrison County, MS, and Southeast Texas. But there is still a great deal of rebuilding that needs to be done for years to come to bring back communities hit hard by Katrina and Rita. Make a donation to this fund, either through your local RT affiliate or the RT National office.

Upcoming 2009 work weeks will be in almost every month except July and August. Volunteer teams are asked to arrive on Sunday and leave on Saturday of that week. We seek skilled project managers, roofers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, drywall hangers, handyman volunteers, and donations of frequent flyer miles. Teams should be prepared for difficult work conditions for multiple days, a five day work commitment, providing their own airfare to the Gulf. Once there, accomodations, meals, and transportation to and from the work sites will be provided.

To sign up for a Gulf Coast rebuild, please go to the Gulf Coast Volunteer page and click on the dates and Cities listing that you would like to work to
get to the volunteer signup.

For more information, contact Erin Lawless at:

Erin Lawless
Rebuilding Together
1899 L Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington DC 20036

800.473.4229

erin_lawless@rebuildingtogether.org