In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina & Rita in November 2005 a unique partnership formed with the Terrebonne Readiness and Assistance Coalition (TRAC) to design sustainable affordable housing for the rural coastal bayou regions of Louisiana. A true collaborative effort, the Lift House has been designed in partnership with Oxfam America, Sigus-MIT, and TRAC and encompasses fiscal investments from the American Red Cross, Catholic Social Services, Church World Service, Katrina Square Dancers/Lift House Building Fund, LA Disaster Recovery Foundation, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and United Way for South Louisiana. This pilot project which consists of designing and constructing 5 homes that can withstand Category 5 hurricane force winds constructed on five different bayou communities has multi-faceted goals:
- Replacement of destroyed homes for low-to-moderate income families that could not afford to rebuild without financial assistance.
- Homes are designed and built to comply with International Building Code requirements for Coastal Zone Construction which includes elevations of an average of 10 – 14ft above sea level.
- Homes are energy efficient to help reduce energy consumption and lower monthly utility expenses.
- Homes will serve as a model of affordable sustainable construction.
For more information, see TRAC’S Lift House Page.