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24 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday May 26, 2006 Oakville man heads Operation Home Delivery By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Having run public companies worth upwards of $300 million as a leader in Canada's construction industry, Ken Meinert knows what it's like to make an impact. But, the Oakville resident says, that's "nothing to compare" with the initiative he began last October: leading Habitat for Humanity's efforts to rebuild areas of the Gulf Coast devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. "I've never had an opportunity to participate with so many people having such tremendous impact on individuals and communities in my life," said Meinert, senior vice president of Operation Home Delivery, Habitat's venture to build simple, decent housing in hurricane-devastated areas of the United States. "It's been an overwhelming experience." More than 500,000 Gulf Coast homes were destroyed last summer following two of the deadliest hurricanes in American history. Meinert knew he couldn't prepare himself to see the destruction. "The sheer mass of devastation, not just to housing, but to businesses and power structures," he said. "I never could have imagined it." What surprised him most, though, was the amount of hope amidst the devastation. "It's amazing. In so many areas, I'm just overwhelmed with the support and the response, the number of volunteers and church groups and others who are pulling together," he said in a phone interview from Atlanta, though he spends most of his time in New Orleans and Mississippi. UPDATING A FAN: Pictured while in Americus, Georgia at an International Habitat for Humanity board meeting, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter ­ a big supporter of Habitat ­ was updated on the work Ken Meinert was doing with Operation Home Delivery. "The amount of support has far exceeded my expectations. People are very, very hopeful, and very, very determined." Even in New Orleans, where 40 ­ 50 per cent of the city was wiped out and where the devastation is such that Meinert says, "It would have been incomprehensible to me had I not walked the streets." Much of the hope is fuelled by the progress. terms of hope." Habitat has with the help of "It's the one Meinert assists with the organizations like the Salvation house and then building process but spends Army and grassroots groups the one most of his time trying to coorbuilt more than 200 brand new dinate resources through sponcommunity at a homes, and many more are sors, donors, volunteers and underway. They've also cleaned time that cause local Habitat affiliates. up and renovated thousands of you to believe "I'm usually traveling across homes. the area so I can try to get the that this will in "Communities are slowly fact get done." right kind of support to each coming back. It's just so encourcommunity," he said. "The aging and it's so hopeful to see matching of the support and Ken Meinert, the families returning and the need is a big challenge Operation Home regaining some sense of noracross the area." Delivery malcy," said Meinert. "It's the Demand for housing far outone house and then the one weighs supply, so Habitat is also community at a time that cause you to working with other organizations to refer believe that this will in fact get done." families it can't help directly to other approAn engineer and entrepreneur, Meinert priate housing solutions. was approached by Habitat International's Habitat partners with families based on CEO Jonathan Reckford to plan and carry three criteria: a need for decent and affordout Operation Home Delivery. After con- able housing, an ability to repay a full nosulting his wife and three kids, who he's interest mortgage which is then used to been able to see just twice since Christmas, build more homes and a willingness to parthe agreed to take on the task. ner with Habitat. The initiative is fuelled by Habitat's "Our goal is to have over 1,000 homes `house in a box' program, which involves under construction by June of next year. pre-building parts of houses and shipping That's a milestone I'm looking towards," them to the Gulf Coast to be assembled into said Meinert. "At that point, I believe we'll be full homes. on our way to having sustainable capacity in Habitat is working directly in Mississippi, each of those communities to go forward for Louisiana, Texas and Alabama in 40 different many years." counties and parishes, where upwards of 3,000 As for when the communities will be 100 people are volunteering on any given day. per cent recovered, Meinert says, "there's no "There are a few bright spots where question that this will be a decade-long Habitat has made a tremendous difference," project." said Meinert, who noted that a small comTo donate to Habitat for Humanity munity south of New Orleans now boasts 26 Canada and support Operation Home brand new homes and is close to being com- Delivery's rebuilding efforts in hurricane pletely rejuvenated. affected regions of the Gulf Coast, visit "That's making a very big impact in www.habitat.ca or call 1-800-667-5137. NOW OPEN in Downtown Oakville! 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