For this reason, Bay-Waveland Habitat has established a separate fund to receive donations to Haiti Relief. One hundred percent of funds received will be directed to Habitat for Humanity International’s Haiti Relief efforts.

Habitat for Humanity has been at work in Haiti for more than 26 years. In that time they’ve helped provide housing for more than 2,000 families. Through vocational programs, they’ve trained many in carpentry and construction skills.

Based on its experience in other disasters, Habitat’s response to the earthquake will be three-fold:

1. Mobilizing people to clear the way for shelter construction and home rehabilitation. As part of the clean-up phase, a "cash for work" program will organize local people in affected neighborhoods and provide them with tools such as shovels, wheelbarrows and crowbars.
   
   
2. Distributing building materials and tools in shelter kits. Shelter kits include building materials and tools and are designed to equip families to do immediate repairs.
   
   
3. Construction of transitional housing. The transitional shelter can be built quickly, but provides a permanent base structure. The design includes a concrete floor and structure of beams and partial wall, wall panels that can be converted later to permanent materials and a hurricane-resistant roof of metal sheets or micro-concrete.

In addition to helping raise funds for Habitat International’s efforts in Haiti, Bay-Waveland Habitat is exploring opportunities to lead teams of local staff and volunteers to the region. “While it’s too early for our teams to go,” said Wendy McDonald, “we want to be among the first to go when the opportunity arises.”