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NAHB Provides Relief, Resources for Hurricane Victims and Displaced Builders
NAHB launched a multi-pronged relief and rebuilding effort to assist Hurricane Katrina victims — both the general public and building industry members — just days after the hurricane came ashore and devastated the Gulf Coast, killing hundreds, destroying or damaging hundreds of thousands of homes and leaving 1 million people homeless.
To address immediate and critical housing and humanitarian needs, NAHB last week donated $1 million to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army. Contributions of $500,000 were made to each relief organization.
In addition, NAHB created the Home Building Industry Disaster Relief Fund so displaced builders could get back to work quickly and begin rebuilding their communities.
To help get important information out to displaced builders and the general public, NAHB has begun posting disaster relief resources, including contact information, on the NAHB Web site.
NAHB has also launched public service announcement campaigns in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas aimed at locating displaced builders and educating the public on how to find and work with reputable builders and remodelers.
NAHB Testifies Before Congress
NAHB President Dave Wilson went before Congress on Sept. 15 to offer several recommendations on how to address the immediate critical housing needs of Hurricane Katrina evacuees and the long-term rebuilding effort. (See related story elsewhere in this issue for details.)
NAHB members around the country began donating funds and resources to the relief and rebuilding effort almost immediately. At the fall NAHB Board of Directors meeting earlier this month, NAHB members donated more than $120,000 and pledged another $300,000 to the newly-formed building industry relief fund. Members are being encouraged to continue to donate to the fund.
The following is a compilation of the activities and resources NAHB has available to date. Detailed information can also be found on the NAHB Web site at www.nahb.org/disasterrelief and www.nahb.org/disasterresources.
Donations and Offers of Materials and Labor
NAHB has been collecting, by e-mail and through phone calls, a listing of the many generous offers of building materials, volunteer labor and offers to work in the affected areas that have poured in since Katrina hit land.
NAHB is compiling that list and evaluating the specific needs of the stricken areas in order to develop an effective network to distribute and make best use of these donated resources. Members are asked to continue contacting the NAHB Member Service Center (800-368-5242) with donations or to visit the NAHB Disaster Resources section of the NAHB Web site to donate materials and labor.
Those who wish to donate materials or labor now may want to contact the following organizations.
To donate materials:
To volunteer:
Home Building Industry Disaster Relief Fund Established
To raise much needed funds for the massive rebuilding effort that lies ahead, NAHB established the Home Building Industry Disaster Relief Fund with an initial contribution of $1 million.
The fund will assist builder members and their associations in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama whose operations have been disrupted by the hurricane so they can get back on their feet and help rebuild their communities.
NAHB Immediate Past President and Mississippi home builder Bobby Rayburn is leading NAHB's efforts in the Home Building Industry Disaster Relief Fund. NAHB members are encouraged to donate to the fund now.
To contribute, send checks to:
National Housing Endowment
Hurricane Building Industry Disaster Relief Fund
1201 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Checks should be made payable to the National Housing Endowment. Please note “Home Building Industry Disaster Relief Fund” in the memo section of the check.
Details about the disaster relief fund can be found on the NAHB Web site. For more information, or to donate, visit www.nahb.org/disasterrelief. The fund was established as a charitable 501(c)(3) entity.
NAHB Disaster Resources Can Be Found on NAHB.org
NAHB also has created a new NAHB Disaster Resources section on the NAHB Web site in order to assist the general public and members of the building industry. The section includes general information, links and contact information for everything from donating building materials and labor to finding housing assistance.
The resources are available for both the building industry and the general public.
Building industry resources on the NAHB Web site include:
Resources for general public also include:
Both resource sections also offer more detailed and contact information on related topics.
Educating the Public, Locating NAHB Members
NAHB has launched several public service campaigns for radio, television and newspapers in the stricken areas along the Gulf Coast and in Texas in an effort to find displaced NAHB members and others in the building industry, as well as to educate the public on how to find reputable builders and remodelers when they begin rebuilding.
In Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, NAHB currently is focusing the campaign on finding displaced and economically injured building industry members and getting that contact information to the state and local home builders associations.
In Alabama, NAHB has launched a similar public service campaign, but with the focus on helping consumers find reputable builders and remodelers and warning them of fly-by-night contractors.
Assisting Builders, Rebuilding Local Home Builders Associations
On Wednesday, Sept. 21, state and local association members and staff in the affected states, along with staff from the Florida Home Builders Association and NAHB, will meet in Jackson, Miss. to discuss the needs of the members and associations in the affected areas.
Rayburn and Home Builders Association of Mississippi Executive Vice President and EOC President Marty Milstead will conduct the meeting. Federal government representatives, including those from FEMA, are expected to attend.
NAHB is continually updating information on disaster relief and rebuilding on the NAHB Web site.
For the latest information, visit the NAHB Web site at www.nahb.org/disasterrelief and www.nahb.org/disasterresources and upcoming issues of Nation’s Building News.
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