|TOP|Church World Service (CWS) and Habitat for Humanity International, an ecumenical Christian ministry, are set to launch the first stage of a new partnership to rebuild 82 homes in the Gulf Coast region of the US and resettle displaced victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The two organisations announced that nearly half a million from the total US$3 million Habitat grant to CWS will be distributed to repair the homes as well as support low-income individuals and displaced families in returning home.

The funds will be managed by nine local level organisations involved in the long-term recovery of the region.

CWS has awarded initial grants to the following local recovery organisations:

Boat People SOS, Biloxi, Mississippi: US$60,000.00
Citizens Organised for Rita Restoration, Kirbyville, Texas: US$80,000.00

|AD|CityTeam Ministries, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi: US$32,500.00

Harrison County Coalition, Gulfport, Mississippi: US$22,000.00

Northshore Disaster Recovery Inc., St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana: US$97,800.00

Rebuilding Pearl River County Together, Picayune, Mississippi: US$33,000.00

Sabine/San Augustine Emergency Long Term Programme, Hemphill, Texas:US$69,700.00

Southeast Texas Interfaith Organisation for Disaster Recovery, Beaumont, Texas: US$13,045.00

Terrebonne Readiness and Assistance Coalition, Houma, Louisiana: US$37,983.00

The remaining US$3 million will be distributed over the coming two years to support residential reconstruction projects in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

The partnership will see the reconstruction or repair of 500 homes. But the joint venture between Habitat and CWS is not just rebuilding homes but lives.

In the words of one survivor in Mississippi: "When they started work on my home, it brought us hope, but the rebuilding has healed our hearts."

Meanwhile, Habitat is continuing with its project to build a thousand new homes in the affected region by mid 2007.