Gates Foundation To Give $7.1 Million To Support Gulf Coast Housing

SEATTLE (AP) _ The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said it would give $7.1 million to help Gulf Coast organizations advocate for affordable housing and workers' rights. <br/><br/>The money, which will

Friday, May 11th 2007, 7:21 am

By: News On 6

SEATTLE (AP) _ The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said it would give $7.1 million to help Gulf Coast organizations advocate for affordable housing and workers' rights.

The money, which will be distributed by Oxfam America, is intended to help people whose homes were destroyed by hurricanes Katrina and Rita and those who have been employed to work on the cleanup.

``During the past year and a half, we have seen how many of the Gulf Coast's neediest residents have been denied the resources they need to rebuild their lives _ and how the low-wage workers who are making the rebuilding effort possible have been exploited,'' Raymond C. Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America, said in a statement Thursday.

He said Oxfam works with local community leaders who are advocating for change in Louisiana and Mississippi.

``Inequities that existed before the devastating hurricanes of 2005 have become even more pronounced and new ones have arisen,'' said Hilary Pennington, director of special initiatives for the Gates Foundation. ``This investment, although outside the scope of our usual giving, reflects the enormity of the crisis and our desire to support local organizations so they can grow in expertise and influence.''

Since 2005, the Gates Foundation has given money to help displaced students, and refurbish and rebuild libraries on the Gulf Coast.

The foundation gives a majority of its grants in the areas of world health, global development and education.