St. Bernard Project
Encyclopedia
The St. Bernard Project is a non-profit organization established in March 2006 to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina
within the St. Bernard Parish
. It was originally founded by Zack Rosenburg and Liz McCartney. As of June 2011, the St. Bernard Project and its volunteers have rebuilt over 370 homes.
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Founding Date: March 2006
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Type: 501(c)3 non-profit rebuilding organization
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Headquarters: St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans
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Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
within the St. Bernard Parish
St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana
St. Bernard Parish is a parish located southeast of New Orleans in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Chalmette, the largest city in the parish. As of 2000, its population was 67,229. It has been ranked the fastest-growing county in the United States from 2007 to 2008 by the U.S....
. It was originally founded by Zack Rosenburg and Liz McCartney. As of June 2011, the St. Bernard Project and its volunteers have rebuilt over 370 homes.
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Founding Date: March 2006
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Type: 501(c)3 non-profit rebuilding organization
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Headquarters: St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans
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What SBP Does
The St. Bernard Project focuses on rebuilding the homes of over 1500 families and residents who still occupy FEMA trailers or other federal housing. To do this, the project uses an "Under One Roof" model, incorporating the many facets of a successful volunteer-based rebuilding program into one entity. The project recruits volunteers, trains them, provides skilled site managers, provides health services, and even coordinates fundraising to run it all. The project has three distinct programs, all of which target the specific needs of different groups in the community.Rebuild
The Rebuilding Program is a volunteer-driven program that evaluates the need of homeowners and then either supplies skilled labor to help them rebuild their homes, or, if the homeowner cannot afford them on their own, provides building materials paid for by donations. The Rebuilding Program can rebuild a home in 12 weeks, for around $15,000. So far, the program has rebuilt 354 houses.Opportunity Housing Program
The Affordable Rental/First Time Homeowners Program aims to provide housing options to senior and disabled residents of St. Bernard Project who face 50% increases in rental rates since hurricane Katrina.Center for Wellness and Mental Health
The Center for Wellness and Mental Health provides much needed mental health services to go along with the rebuilding and housing programs. The clinic opened in January 2009, and through a partnership with the LSU Psychiatry Department, treats patients in an office located in St. Bernard Parish.Who SBP Helps
St. Bernard Parish is the only county in US history to ever be completely destroyed by a natural disaster. Each house of the 27,000 from before Katrina was destroyed by the floodwaters that sat for weeks in the city. This disaster has left the residents of this traditionally working class community, whose assets were tied up for the most part in their physical houses, in a desperate situation. SBP aims to help low to medium income clients, focusing on the elderly, the disabled and families with small children. SBP's clients are those who could not improve their situations without the help of a charitable organization.Awards
- On the 27th of November 2008, Liz McCartneyLiz McCartneyLiz McCartney cofounded the St. Bernard Project in March 2006 to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in the St. Bernard Parish of Louisiana, southeast of New Orleans. She is the 2008 Hero of the year.-Biography:...
and the St. Bernard Project were recognized for its efforts in a ceremony by CNN, titled CNN Heroes, by carrying home the Hero of the year award.
- On January 5, 2009 Liz and Zack were named Gambit's New Orleanians of the Year 2008.
- On May 3, 2008, Senator Mary Landrieu presented Liz and Zack with the Heroes of the Storm Award.
- Liz and Zack received the Manhattan Institute, Social Entrepreneurship Award in 2008.
- In 2007, Liz and Zack made Gambit's 40 under 40 list of successful young New Orleanians.