Federal Coordinator Douglas O’ Dell Addresses Annual Catholic Charities USA Conference in New Orleans

Release Date: September 25, 2008

For Immediate Release
Contact: Brendan LaCivita (202) 572-8878

New Orleans, LA. – General Doug O'Dell, federal coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, today commented at Catholic Charities USA annual conference on the significant roles faith-based organizations, specifically Catholic Charities, play in the rebuilding of New Orleans and the entire Gulf Coast region. This year’s conference, "Building Communities of Hope and Harmony," focused on the lack of affordable housing in America and the role Catholic Charities play in solving this need.

"I want to thank the entire team at Catholic Charities USA who sent thousands of volunteers, financial contributions, and goods to the region. The president calls you ‘armies of compassion’ and ‘foot soldiers in helping make America a more hopeful place’ and I am here today to say I see it firsthand," O'Dell said.

O’Dell specifically referenced Catholic Charities doubling their $7 million goal for direct assistance to families. He also detailed the organization’s goals for housing needs, specifically:

• Repairing and rebuilding 2,400 homes and apartments
• Building 1,200 new homes
• Building 3,400 new apartments

Catholic Charities also has been central in feeding the hungry. Since Hurricane Katrina the charity has provided more than 61 million meals and distributed more than 156,000,000 pounds of food.

"I’m proud of the way local, state, and federal entities and the private sector – particularly faith-based organizations like Catholic Charities – are working together," stated O’Dell. "You are an army of compassion carrying out a mission to care for the most vulnerable and that is one of life's most important missions."

Catholic Charities USA provides strong leadership and support to enhance the work of the local agencies in their efforts to reduce poverty, support families, and empower communities. Their members, a network of more than 1,700 Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide, provide help and create hope for more than 7.8 million people of all faiths a year.

The Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding has been engaged in facilitating and streamlining the recovery effort, providing key federal support and resources to state and local leaders, as well as reinforcing the federal government's commitment to the people of the Gulf Coast.

www.dhs.gov/gulfcoastrebuild

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