Atlanta-based The Home Depot® has launched Rebuilding Hope & Homes, the second phase of its philanthropic response to communities affected by Hurricane Katrina. Through customer contributions and a match of up to $1 million by The Home Depot, Rebuilding Hope & Homes will fund health and human service programs for disaster victims, and support the construction and refurbishment of affordable housing for individuals and families displaced by the storm. With approximately 1.3 billion customer transactions a year, The Home Depot seeks to empower its customer base to assist in this unprecedented rebuilding effort. Customers will have the opportunity to make $1, $5 or $10 donations to the program at any U.S. store.

Half of the donated and matched funds will go to the United Way of America. The United Way will utilize its grant within its local chapters to fund the services they are providing to those affected by the storm. The other half will go to The Home Depot Foundation, which, over the next several months, will provide funds to nonprofit organizations working to rebuild communities devastated by the storm and to construct affordable housing for individuals of low to moderate income who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

For more information on how The Home Depot is helping with the recovery effort, read the October 2006 issue of SHELTER magazine.