Habitat for Humanity's Annual 'Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project' Will Help Build Housing With Earthquake-Affected Haitian Families in 2011 and 2012

ATLANTA, Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Habitat for Humanity announced its 28th annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project will kick off a two-year effort to help earthquake-affected families in Haiti. The 2011 build will take place Nov. 5 – 12 in Leogane, where President and Mrs. Carter will join hundreds of volunteers to build homes with families 18 miles west of Port-au-Prince, an area considered to be the epicenter of the Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake.

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"Like the rest of the world, Rosalynn and I were heartbroken to see the devastation and despair that the earthquake brought onto a country already so impoverished," said President Carter. "We have witnessed and been a part of the life-changing work Habitat has done around the world. And we are pleased to join Habitat for Humanity volunteers and the Haitian people to rebuild homes and to bring attention to the ongoing support needed for Haiti's recovery.  Our two-year commitment to Haiti is in response to the great need that exists in the country and our recognition that post-disaster reconstruction is a long-term effort."

Volunteers will build 100 core houses during the week. The build will take place in the Santo community where a total of 500 houses will be built with families currently living in tents and other temporary structures.

An additional 50 Habitat houses in Santo will be built the week before the Carter Work Project by volunteers from Haven, an Irish-based nonprofit working to build homes and sustainable communities in Haiti. Haven also is partnering with Habitat to handle site logistics for the Carter Work Project.

"As part of our overall disaster recovery program, Habitat for Humanity is committed to serving 50,000 Haitian families over the next five years," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "We are grateful that the Carters and other volunteers will be joining us in Haiti and are honored that we can highlight the importance urbanization and the critical role shelters play after a disaster as part of World Habitat Day."

Habitat's Carter Work Project will be the culmination of a month-long observance of the need for safe, decent and affordable shelter that begins on World Habitat Day, Oct. 3. Observed annually on the first Monday of October, World Habitat Day is designated by the United Nations as a time to reflect on the dire need for adequate shelter around the globe. Habitat will kick-off the World Habitat Day observance in Washington, D.C., with a focus on rebuilding hope after disasters, highlighting the work in Haiti as an exemplary response to the need for recovery.

The Carters are Habitat for Humanity's most famous volunteers and give a week of their time each year to help Habitat build, renovate or repair homes, and raise awareness about the need for affordable and decent housing. They joined Habitat for Humanity in 1984 to help renovate a decaying building in New York City's Lower East Side. Today, the building is part of a thriving, reinvigorated and dynamic community. Since that first build, the Carters and thousands of volunteers have worked with Habitat for Humanity across the United States and in Mexico, Canada, Hungary, South Africa, South Korea, India, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, China, Laos and Vietnam.

The dates of the 2012 Carter Work Project in Haiti have not yet been selected.

About Habitat for Humanity Haiti

Habitat for Humanity has been at work in Haiti for 26 years and has provided housing solutions through a variety of initiatives including new home construction, progressive building, home repairs and improvements. Habitat also builds capacity in construction skills, disaster risk reduction and financial literacy, and works in coordination with community and government agencies.

About Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than two million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit Habitat.org.

SOURCE Habitat for Humanity