Dear Friend,

You are receiving this letter as a supporter of Jericho Road. We ask your help in responding to a critical and immediate need in our community. As you probably know, as the Gulf Coast began its fervent post Katrina rebuilding process, dry wall from China was used extensively. After the fact, it was discovered that much of this product had toxic and corrosive properties and needed to be replaced along with all the mechanical systems of each home. This has been a serious problem for all homeowners around the Gulf South and particularly devastating for those families we serve at the lower end of the economic scale.

Last year, we were informed by one of our partners that several Jericho Road homes may contain donated drywall from China. We were also advised that we had no legal obligation to offer remediation to those who had purchased these homes, and that we were unlikely to receive any insurance settlement to reimburse us were we to do so.

Without hesitation, our board authorized the staff to notify every Jericho Road homeowner, offer to test the homes, and promise to cover the costs of necessary remediation. We felt that any other course of action would violate our core values as an organization. We seek to transform the Jericho Road as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. described. Thus, we are called to protect those most vulnerable in our society from being beaten and robbed by proverbial thieves and robbers as they make their way down life's path.

We seek to model the values to which we ascribe as people of faith and hold ourselves to the highest standard of ethics and business practice.  The remediation work is now almost complete, and our expense has been roughly $300,000. The board authorized us to pay this from our reserve funds, and this has deeply affected our cash flow at a critical time in our growth and development.

In order to continue our important work of transforming neighborhoods and creating homeowners, we are turning to our past supporters for help. Please consider contributing to our drywall remediation fund. We have set a goal of August 31 to raise these funds, so that we can begin the fall budgeting cycle able to focus on building new homes in 2012.

You can make your donation on line at www.jerichohousing.org or by mail.  Jericho Road’s mailing address is 1623 Seventh Street, New Orleans, LA  70115.

With every good wish for a restful summer, I remain faithfully yours,

The Very Reverend David duPlantier
Vice Chair, Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative Board of Directors

JERICHO ROAD EPISCOPAL HOUSING INITIATIVE of New Orleans, founded in part by Episcopal Relief & Development, is a neighborhood-based nonprofit homebuilder that provides families with healthy and energy efficient affordable housing opportunities. We partner with neighborhood residents, organizations and businesses to create and maintain a stable and thriving community.

In consultation with Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Department of Occupational Therapy, Jericho Road is constructing homes that promote accessibility through Universal Design principles. Jericho Road is committed to building homes for a lifetime.