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Cities Rebuilding Cities is an organization dedicated to rebuilding U.S. cites devastated by natural disasters; one home and one family at a time. Currently our overriding goal is to raise enough money to build the Brown family a new home.

After encountering the Brown family in New Orleans, a group of Portland Community College faculty and students hatched this idea - If every student, faculty and staff member at PCC gave just a little, we could rebuild the Brown's home. How many homes could be rebuilt if everyone in the city of Portland pooled their resources or if organizations and other cities did the same?

What is unique about this project is that your tax deductible donation will go directly to the construction of a new home for the Brown family. Donations will be managed by the Portland Community College Foundation, 99% going to the construction of the Brown's home and 1% to the PCC Foundation for fund administration.

Goals of the project

• Provide a new home by July of 2010 for a family that has lost everything
• Demonstrate to the people of New Orleans that they are not forgotten
• Meet or exceed the green building principles outlined in
  Building Science Corporation affordable housing plans for New Orleans.
• Learn from the experience and perhaps repeat the success again
• Provide Portland Community College students with an unmatched service learning opportunity

Financial needs

Thanks to the great work of Catholic Charities the Browns have received $139,250 of Federal assistance and $35,000 from a lottery sponsored by the City of New Orleans. We are hopeful that the Browns will receive an additional $10,000 from the City of New Orleans for elevating the home.

Though our efforts at Cities Rebuilding Cities we have raised $18,189.

Originally we thought the home could be built for $165,000 but due to the size of the family we increased the house to four bedrooms which brought us closer to $200,000 Currently we are close to that number but that would leave the family with no furniture, cookware or landscaping, etc. So we want to raise an additional $10,000-$15,000 so that the Browns can move into a fully furnished home.

Home design

We have selected a home, designed by Building Science Corporation for the Department of Energy. It is designed to be energy efficient and takes into account the local climate and soil conditions of New Orleans. Here are some of the features:

• Paperless drywall to prevent mold
• Rigid insulation for good heat or cool retention
• High efficiency insulated wind resistant windows
• Water and moisture shedding building envelope system
• Adjustable foundation system to accommodate ground settling
• Low water usage plumbing fixtures by Toto

• Solar water heating or energy generation
• Use of recycled materials
• Use of non-formaldehyde containing materials
• Low VOC paints, sealants and adhesives
• Water recycling
• Entry ramp
• ADA compliant restroom and kitchen

Project management

In July 2008 Spencer Hinkle and Francis McBride visited New Orleans to meet with Catholic Charities representative Joan Diaz. Catholic Charities does disaster relief all over the world but in New Orleans they have developed a program called "Operation Helping Hands". They have taken over a Catholic Parish and turned it into a very impressive construction warehouse and staging area to support their rebuilding efforts.

We introduced Cornelius to Operation Helping Hands and they have agreed to serve as construction manager for the Brown Project. Incidentally their facility is within walking distance of the Brown's property.

Once the money is raised what happens?

An escrow account has been setup for the Road Home money and our donations. As benchmarks are met during the construction process, Operation Helping Hands will inspect the work and advise Cornelius to pay the subcontractors.

Who is in charge of the project?

In Portland, the following people have been working with the Brown family and will be responsible for coordinating the project.

• Spencer Hinkle
  Department Co-Chair Building Construction Technology
  Portland Community College
• Francis McBride
  Construction Project Manager
  Portland State University
• Rick Kolinsky
  Video/Web Instructor
  Lincoln High School

In New Orleans, Paul Cook from Operation Helping Hands will be the project manager.

Final thoughts

I'll never forget how I felt after Cornelius gave us the tour through his home. Walking away without doing something was never an option.

It's exciting to think that a group of friends and family could pool their resources and rebuild a new home for a family who has lost everything. Cornelius' daughter Rondera told me that before Katrina she never imagined being homeless. During our conversation I asked about the cramped condition in the trailer, expecting her to complain, but she didn't. She said that although it was less than perfect she was thankful to have a place for her family to live. She was clearly tired and stretched extremely thin, but she didn't complain. She looked at me and said "it is what it is".

Together we can turn "what it is" into what it should be.

Spencer Hinkle