Repost: Architecture for Humanity (From Pro-Urb listserv)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Practice of New Urbanism
> [mailto:PRO-URB@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Diane Bossart
> Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 6:03 AM
> To: PRO-URB@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Hurricane Katrina -Architecture for Humanity
>
> Hi:
>
> Some of you on the list may be interested in how to volunteer or help
> after Hurricane Katrina. In the interest of passing along information,
> here is an email I received from Cameron Sinclair from
> "Architecture for
> Humanity," a nonprofit organization founded in 1999 to promote
> architectural and design solutions to global, social and humanitarian
> crises.
>
> Our thoughts are with all those left stranded without food or
> water, those
> coping with the loss of loved ones and those left homeless by the
> disaster. Over the course of the next several weeks we will
> be evaluating
> ways that we can help locally-based architects and community groups
> rebuild their homes and communities.
>
> Once the water has receded and people begin to make their way back to
> their communities, the disaster-affected areas will be facing
> a housing
> crisis on an unprecedented scale.
>
> Get Involved:
>
> In the weeks to come we will be posting updates on our site as well as
> information for local architects on how to request support from
> Architecture for Humanity. In the mean time, here are a few
> ways you can
> get involved now:
>
> If you are interested in helping to organize a fundraiser or
> help raise
> awareness in your area, please contact us at staff (at)
> architectureforhumanity.org. If you are a design professional
> based in, or
> near, a disaster-affected area, please contact us at
> katrina_reconstruction (at) architectureforhumanity.org, and
> we will add
> you to our contact lists.
>
> We also encourage you to sign up with the AIA's Call for
> Volunteers, or
> contact your local AIA chapter. If you live within a 300 mile
> radius of
> the disaster area and would be willing to host those left
> homeless, visit
> Movon.org's site: http://www.hurricanehousing.org/
>
> If you'd like to help fund the work of locally-based architects and
> community groups, you can make a donation to Architecture for
> Humanity.
> News and updates:
>
> As survivors are still trapped in New Orleans, officials prepare to
> evacuate 25,000 refugees to the Houston Astrodome. Reports
> indicate the
> facility will be used for temporary shelter until authorities
> can place
> people in shelters and other forms of accommodation.
>
> Many who evacuated disaster-affected areas earlier and are unable to
> afford hotel accommodation, are also seeking shelter in the
> unused stadium
> and other officials shelters.
>
> Move-on.org is assisting homeless families find temporary
> accomodation by
> connectiong them with people willing to open their homes to
> survivors. To
> learn more visit: http://www.hurricanehousing.org/
>
> Though no one likes to see families sheltered en masse in a building
> clearly designed for another purpose, in a complex emergency
> such as this,
> the logistics of bringing temporary shelter into a
> disaster-affected area
> with inadequate or nonfunctioning infrastructure, may make removing
> individuals a much more timely and humane response.
>
> Long-term Housing Assistance: FEMA has made its guide to
> individuals and
> families, available on its web site:http://www.fema.gov/about/process/
>
>
> Diane Bossart
> University of Pittsburgh
>