Rebuilding of Gulf Coast Progressing Slowly
Post-Katrina Rebuilding Is Still in Early Stages
In the five months since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, the Red Cross and five other charities that received the largest amount of donations have spent 71 percent of the money they collected, NBC News reports.
The organizations' largest single expense has been the financial assistance awarded to 1.3 million families, each of whom received about $1,000 to meet immediate needs. In addition, Red Cross volunteers are still serving some 14,000 meals a day in New Orleans, and a Salvation Army center in Biloxi, Mississippi, continues to hand out free supplies to storm victims in need of infant formula, clothing, and other items.
At the same time, the rebuilding of homes has taken longer to move forward. Officials from the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund said they are waiting for requests from foundations dedicated to rebuilding in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama as well as from colleges and universities and faith-based groups. Meanwhile, with sixty homes finished or under construction, Habitat for Humanity says it will build as many homes as it has the funds to complete. "We are planning to build at least one thousand homes in the next eighteen months," said Habitat CEO Jonathan Reckford.
Still, faced with so much devastation — and so little visible progress — some have argued that Americans who gave generously to relief and recovery efforts should have seen more bang for their buck by now. Noting that the new hurricane season begins on June 1, Richard Walden, president of Los Angeles-based Operation USA, said, "Private charities have got to do a better job and a faster job."
Myers, Lisa.
“Checking on Charities After Katrina.”
NBC News
1/30/06.
Primary Subject: Philanthropy and Voluntarism
Secondary Subject(s): Hurricane Relief
Location(s): Gulf Coast
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