America Builds Homes on D.C.'s National Mall
Washington, D.C.’s National Mall is turning into a construction zone for home building beginning Veteran's Day as Habitat for Humanity prepares to provide permanent shelter for the Katrina victims.
Washington, D.C.’s National Mall is turning into a construction zone for home building beginning Veteran's Day as Habitat for Humanity prepares to provide permanent shelter for the Katrina victims.
Congressional leaders, Habitat volunteers, the Freddie Mac team – which supports homeownership and rental housing – and celebrities will team together on Nov. 11-18 at the heart of the nation's capital to build the skeleton of houses that will be shipped to the Gulf Coast region.
Part of a larger nationwide effort called "America Builds on the National Mall," the construction will kick off in conjunction with the honor of Veteran's Day and progress from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for a full week.
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The National Mall effort is expected to result in the completion of frames for 51 homes - representing all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
Built frames will be sent to the recovering Gulf Coast area where they will be assembled into permanent housing.
The building project began in late September when Habitat partnered with NBC News "Today" and Warner Music Group to produce the first homes for Katrina victims at the Rockefeller Plaza in New York. The construction site was dubbed "Humanity Plaza" as volunteers teamed together to assist in a project that was anticipated to produce at least 100 homes over the next couple of months.
Habitat for Humanity International, based in Americus, Ga., is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for one million people.
