Project Home Again is a nonprofit, housing development organization created by The Leonard and Louise Riggio Foundation shortly after Hurricane Katrina to build high-quality, energy-efficient homes for low and moderate-income, New Orleanians who have been unable to rebuild and return to their homes.

Like thousands of people across the world, Leonard and Louise Riggio watched in horror and disgust as New Orleanians struggled for their lives in their deluged city for five long and sweltering days in August 2005. Struck by the myriad injustices the disaster revealed, the Riggios and their long-time friend, the former Deputy Mayor of New York City, Bill Lynch formed Project Home Again to restore community, hope and housing to hard-working families who had lost their homes as a result of Hurricane Katrina and the infamous levee failure that damaged or destroyed 80% of the housing stock in one of America's oldest and most unique cities.

Project Home Again has already completed approximately 70 homes in Gentilly. We anticipate reaching our goal of 100 homes by Summer 2012. Our first group of 20 homes was built on St. Bernard Avenue in the Paris Oaks/Bankcroft Park neighborhood. Additional homes can be found in the St. Anthony and Seabrook neighborhoods of Gentilly. Our attractive, craftsman-style homes range in size from 2 bedrooms and one bathroom to 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms. The houses are built to exceed the energy efficiency standards created by the US Department of Energy for the Builders' Challenge program and use 40% less energy than comparable new houses in the region.

Project Home Again has created a unique program in which families who are saddled with damaged homes that they are unable to repair may exchange their old house or vacant lot for a new Project Home Again home. Applicants must meet family size and income requirements which can be found under the Applications tab. Applications are currently being accepted and can be downloaded from this site.

The Riggios invite others in the philanthropic community to join them in supporting this unprecedented effort. Project Home Again is proud partners with the Salvation Army EnviRenew program, the Department of Housing and Urban Renewal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP2), the Greater New Orleans Foundation and other local and national sponsors.

For more information please call: 504-529-3522