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Grants for Katrina Victims

Hurricane Katrina left thousands of people in the Gulf of Mexico region homeless, without jobs and without hope. Several government grant programs helped many affected by Katrina reconstruct cities, towns, and communities. Grants were applied to social organizations, such as community groups, or were distributed to victims of Hurricane Katrina directly.

  1. Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund

    • The Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund is a private foundation started by former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George H. Bush. The fund is fueled by donations from across the world. The fund allocates grants for businesses and housing developments to Gulf states impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The grants are given to nonprofit organizations such as interfaith organizations, colleges and universities. The organizations, in turn, helped in reconstruction efforts across the Gulf States. Projects funded by the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund included housing loans, repairing faith centers and providing students with financial aid to attend college.

    Department of Housing and Urban Development

    • The Department of Housing and Urban Development distributed grants to residents across the Gulf States for housing aid. More than $16.7 billion in federal aid was given to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Grants ranged in scope, but one example included grants distributed by the state of Mississippi that provided up to $150,000 per household in areas impacted by Katrina. The Department of Housing and Urban Development also joined with local organizations to help victims of Katrina. One example was the partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service, which awarded $5 million in grants to university programs that allowed students to volunteer and reconstruct areas impacted by Katrina.

    Farm Grants

    • The agricultural industry was negatively impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Livestock, property, and crops were destroyed and killed by the forces of Hurricane Katrina. The U.S. Department of Agriculture distributed $250 million in grant money to 3,400 farmers in the Gulf states. The federal government also directly paid for any livestock that died as a result of the hurricane, and distributed grant money to the farmers to help clean up farm land.

    Job Grants

    • Emergency grants were distributed to job training facilities and employment training firms. The Department of Labor distributed more than $254 million to community-oriented job training centers that helped train out-of-work residents of Gulf states with new or temporary employment positions.

    Public Restoration

    • The Department of the Interior distributed $43 million through the National Park Service for restoration projects in historical districts and public parks in Gulf Coast cities.

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