February 2007 Update   After 18 months of hard work, Habitat keeps delivering.  Katrina-affected affiliates in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are building at a greatly accelerated rate.  Pre-Katrina, the region's Habitat for Humanity affiliates collectively were building fewer than 60 houses annually.  Through Habitat's Operation Home Delivery program, they now are building that number or more per month.  Approaching the 18-month anniversary of Katrina's landfall, Habitat for Humanity has more than 700 houses built or under construction.  That number will hit 1,000 by mid-summer 2007, with affiliates already poised to tackle building the next 1,000 homes.   Volunteers from around the country have been key to Habitat's house-building work in the region.  More than 50,000 volunteers ... coming as individuals and in organized groups including hundreds of church congregations ... have done hurricane recovery work with or through Habitat since hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck.  Currently, 1,600 volunteer positions per week are filled through March.  At least 1,000 volunteers per week will be needed throughout the spring and summer.   One of Habitat's initial commitments in launching Operation Home Delivery was to be a catalyst for recovery not only throught its own work, but also by being a good partner to other organizations at work in the region.  Numerous collaborations have resulted.  Through the NPO5 Coalition, for example, Enterprise, LISC, NeighborWorks, Enterprise Corpration of the Delta and Habitat for Humanity International are working together on large-scale land purchases and development, as well as local public policy initiatives.  With assistance from Habitat and others, Lutheran Social Services of the South is operating a call center and directing hundreds of families in need to appropriate housing solutions, including Habitat.  Consumer Credit Counseling Services is working with homeowner candidates to address credit remediation and provide post-purchase counseling.  The Salvation Army and Habitat have worked closely together to fulfill their missions, with the Salvation Army helping to identify partner families, providing down payment assistance to families both organizations seek to serve, and housing volunteers around several Habitat projects.  Habitat in turn, provided construction experise and labor for the much-needed volunteer housing centers. As a side note ... The only Habitat houses falling victim to Hurrican Katrina suffered tree damage and high water ... not wind damage.  It has often been said that Habitat homes are built to last because volunteer builders use three nails when one would do.  Katrina seemed to confirm that belief. January 2006 Update The Operation Home Delivery program and its initial panelized house phase have captured the imagination of volunteers and donors everywhere who want to help the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  The challenge for us all is to keep the momentum of goodwill and good intentions moving forward and turn it into housing solutions for thousands of affected families. The first Operation Hme Delivery house was dedicated in Slidell, Louisiana on October 6th and more homes were constructed in Covington, Louisiana later in October.  The goal of Operation Home Delivery is to be steady and thoughtful so that we can offer a logical and efficient plan that results in, as our mission statement calls for, "decent houses in decent communities in which every person can experience God's love and grow into all that God intends." The common challenges that we are facing are those every affiliate faces --- site and family selection.  We continue to actively search for buildable land with clear titles in the affected areas.  This process takes time.  We can't ask affiliates to start building homes before we know the size and orientation of the available land.  Some affected areas also likely will be changing their building codes before the end of the year. Warehousing massive quanitities of containerize homes may not be the most practical approach to the problem.  What will work is to containerize and ship homes as they are needed.  Here is how we plan to move ahead: As affiliates and corporate sponsors indicate their willingness to build a house frame to ship to the Gulf Coast, we will keep them apprised of the situation in the affected areas.  As soon as land and qualified families are available, we will notify the targeted building affiliates as to what type and what quantity of homes will be required ... it's a "build-as-you-go" program.  We anticipate that all interested affiliates and sponsors will be able to participate in the program.

Operation Home Delivery Update      November 22, 2005 Symposiums to Bring in World-Class Experts Over the next several weeks, the Operation Home Delivery (OHD) management office will work with affiliate and industry experts to develop long-term solutions for capacity building in the hurricane-affected states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Separate meetings will be convened in Atlanta to discuss the issues of land, construction, family development and logistics. Already, smaller meetings related to these topics have been conducted and the input from those discussions will serve as a starting point and framework for the larger meetings. Affiliate representatives, housing professionals and leading industry players will analyze the key issues surrounding each topic and offer solutions and implementation strategies. The goal of the meetings is not only to solicit ideas from the industry leaders, but also to enlist their commitment to helping address the challenges. All of the information presented during the meetings will be distilled and used to formulate a strategy going forward.   All four meetings will be completed by Dec. 13. New Orleans Update Operation Home Delivery staff members recently visited New Orleans and other areas along the Gulf Coast. Two thirds of New Orleans is still without power. Entergy announced last week that power would be restored to most regions by year end. This is much improved from earlier estimates of mid-2006. While relatively few residents have returned to New Orleans, some clean-up work has begun on individual homes. It appears that up to 50 percent of the homes will require renovation. Assessment of structural integrity of homes is under way (as is demolition). These are important steps to make way for the rebuilding process. The New Orleans affiliate, its board members and the OHD staff are working to acquire large parcels of land that will accommodate 15-50 homes.  In St. Bernard parish, the parish government has an aggressive plan to have 10,000 homes cleaned out and sorted for renovation or demolition by March 31. More than 90 percent of homes there experienced standing water up to 10 feet for a week. The OHD management office is working with St. Bernard parish to create plan for rebuilding. Special Events Oprah to Build in Houston   In Wednesday's (Nov. 23) episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Oprah will announce that she will be partnering with Habitat for Humanity to construct 50 homes in Houston for families displaced by this summer's hurricanes. The 50 homes represent $2.5 million of a $5 million commitment to build homes with Habitat for Humanity for storm-affected families. On Wednesday's show, Oprah will be talking to families and to representatives of Habitat for Humanity in Houston . Check local listings for airtimes. Bayou Classic State Farm is working with OHD through its annual sponsorship of the Bayou Classic, the football game held Thanksgiving weekend between Louisiana rivals Grambling State University (GSU) and Southern University (SU).  Typically, during this time of year, enthusiastic alumni and current students from the legendary rivals would be preparing to battle it out at the New Orleans Superdome with a Greek Step Show, Battle of the Bands and football game. This year, GSU and SU are coming together to help people displaced by this year's hurricanes.  SU and GSU student volunteers and local chapters of Black Greek Organizations will work jointly to build two homes on the day of the Bayou Classic being hosted at Reliant Stadium in Houston. One home will go to a storm-affected family in New Orleans, while the other home will be designated for a storm-affected family in Houston. America Builds on the National Mall Wrap Up: Members of Congress cast 'swing' vote for affordable housing. America Builds on the National Mall brought together members of Congress and their staffs as well as volunteers and Habitat affiliate and state support representatives from across the country to place a spotlight on the need for affordable housing for families along the Gulf Coast and in communities across the United States and around the world. During this high-profile, high-impact event, 51 containerized homes were built representing each state and the District of Columbia. Two affiliates per state were invited to send a representative to build during the event - the affiliate with the highest tithe-per-house contribution in 2004 and the state's largest home producer for 2004. Future Habitat homeowner Bridgot Barbour and her twin daughters were the guests of honor last Friday - the final day of America Builds on the National Mall. Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Barbours' home in Bayou La Batre, Ala. On Friday, they received the keys to their future Habitat home, one of 51 OHD house frames built last week. "It's amazing how many people have come to volunteer," said Barbour, who hopes to be in her new home before Christmas. Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity, thanked the members of Congress who pounded nails on the build site last week for "casting the 'swing' vote" in support of affordable housing.

We will rebuild!   Habitat for Humanity International has already hit the ground running, launching "Operation Home Delivery" to assist in the hurricane recovery process.   Habitat is asking affiliates, corporations, churches and other groups in communities throughout the nation to assemble the materials - either donated or purchased - needed to build houses and "pre-build" the frames of the homes over a few days' time.  The houses will be tacked together to ensure a rock-solid fit, then taken apart and shipped with all the other materials necessary for construction within the hurricane-affected areas.   We at Milwaukee Habitat will be partnering with local sponsors and volunteers to participate in this "home in a box" project in the upcoming months.  Whether you can make a donation, supply us with materials, provide shipping for the houses, or swing a hammer, we can use your help!  All funds earmarked for hurricane recovery will be used for this effort.  Houses are expected to cost in the neighborhood of $75,000 each.   Please send checks noting "Hurricane Relief" in the memo space.  If you have building materials you are able to donate or would like to make a credit card donation, please call Marcia at (414) 562-6100, Ext. 13.   We are arranging for extra warehouse space to assemble these house kits for shipping.  If you are interested in volunteering on the construction side (either on this end or traveling to the gulf coast), contact Jeri Kavanaugh, our Volunteer Coordinator (414) 562-6100, Ext. 14.

Operation Home Delivery Update            October 25, 2005 For the last few weeks, the staff at the Operation Home Delivery (OHD) management office has provided you with information as it exists regarding the Habitat home in box program. We realize that many of you want more details than are available and that has been a source of frustration for you. I want you to know that we understand that and are working to create the underlying policies, systems and procedures that will ultimately provide the details you need. We are working through a huge amount of offers to build containerized homes. Frankly, the supply side is severely outpacing the demand. Clearly there are families in need, but serviced lots are in short supply at the moment. Many areas are still boiling their drinking water and clearing rubble. There are limited public services and curfews. In Mississippi alone, they are clearing 7 million cubic yards of debris and are about two-thirds done. We know everyone is anxious to participate in the Habitat home in a box program and wants more details. Perhaps we can ease some frustration by presenting some current realities. As we have mentioned before, the Habitat home in a box portion of the Operation Home Delivery program was never intended to be a long-term rebuilding solution. It is Phase I of an overall program designed to get building 'homes on the ground' as soon as possible. We have said that we anticipate building only about 250 homes in a box by the end of the year. Already, more than 180 of these homes have been produced and we have about 50 affiliates who have indicated to build multiple homes. While at one time we envisioned building many more containerized homes and storing them until needed, as we have communicated before, it is not practical given the complex issues of land acquisition, infrastructure and family selection. Eventually, we will move into Phase II, where we build houses on the ground. There are thousands and thousands of houses needed. And though we are not the only solution to this crisis, our work alone will take several years. With your support, we are committed to seeing it through. As you know, the response to our public relations efforts has far exceeded our expectations. We never could have imagined that the Habitat home in a box program would have drawn unprecedented support from the NBC Today Show, the NCAA, the Emmy Awards, Major League Baseball and the President and First Lady of the United States, to name only a few. These are all very positive and very important relationships that we hope will add value to our ministry for years to come. Yet, with all of this publicity and national activity, we realize it has been hard for many of you to wait on the sidelines and manage volunteer and donor expectations. (After all, you are the 'doers' of Habitat.) We apologize for that outcome, but hope you can see the large impact the ministry is gaining nationwide, and hope you are doing everything you can turn this national spotlight into a local benefit. We encourage you to be as flexible as possible and keep in mind the big picture.

Message received October 18, 2005 from The Operation Home Delivery Team: As you know, having back-to-back hurricanes in the same region has resulted in a disaster of extraordinary proportions.  As a result, the logistics behind our recovery program are huge and complex. The Current Situation Habitat's Disaster Response team has done an initial assessment of the affected areas and we are in the process of conducting a second, more in-depth assessment. What We're Doing Now While site acquisition and infrastructure have been problematic, we've had some early success.  We've already built and dedicated one home in Slidell, LA. Please Be Patient If you are eager to start building, we understand --- we are too!   But we ask for your patience at this time.  While we have been able to use small numbers of volunteers at our initial build sites, we cannot accommodate large numbers at this time.  We don't want to send volunteers into an area until the time is right and it is safe to do so.  Once that time comes, we hope to send volunteers into the areas in ever increasing numbers. What You Can Do Now We'll keep you posted on our schedule and timeline for building as we learn more.  In the meantime, please feel free to channel your energy and enthusiasm to the affiliate in your area.  They could always benefit from  your involvement. In addition, as we are sure you know, Operation Home Delivery will require funding to serve as many storm-affected families as possible.  We could always use your financial support.  Again, we thank you for your willingness to volunteer and get involved, and we ask for your continued patience as we work diligently toward a safe and efficient building schedule.

Hurricane Katrina Assessment Report   Executive Summary (Source: Assessment trip 12-15 Sep 2005 & other communications with affected affiliates)   Damage Assessment Seventeen affiliates across AL, LA and MS have been directly impacted. 246 Habitat homes have sustained different levels of damage (wind, flood). Approximately 128 Habitat homes are currently uninhabitable.   Affiliate Operational Status (as of 15 Sep 2005) Fourteen affiliates in the area are operational. 3 affiliates have suffered loss of income and require immediate financial support to continue normal operations. 3 affiliates are non-operational.   Affiliate Capacity to Increase House Production Current capacity does not allow for a significant response in the short term. Building affiliate capacity may take up to 9-12 months. Elements limiting capacity: land, staffing, equipment, volunteer management capacity, limited availability of contractors.   Recommendations pertaining to HFHI Hurricane Katrina Response: Set up a HFHI management structure for the Hurricane Katrina Response to support implementation phase in order to have an impact appropriate in timeframe and scale to the magnitude of the disaster. This structure will interact with affiliates as they build capacity, but could also directly implement project activities (construction, house in a box, repairs, volunteer management, etc) while affiliates provide family services (selection, underwriting, sweat equity, etc). Build capacity for affiliates in surrounding areas as well as affected areas to support the communities facing large numbers of displaced persons (long-term development). Expand "house in a box" concept to also allow for materials packages at the discretion of affiliates. Facilitate the creation of a Home Repair Program to allow HFH for a dramatically wider impact in the affected areas. As an example, if 25% of all raised funds are allocated to the Home Repair Program, the number of families assisted could be increased 12-fold (repairs limited to $2K). This program could also provide a much needed outlet for the more than 15,000 volunteers registered on habitat.org. Establish a HFHI-funded insurance deductible grant program for affected Habitat homeowners without alternatives to source the money elsewhere.