Page 6 - Bernard Project News Today

Like the ninth ward, but it was beautiful to me. i look at flood street and what i have to look at, ill say what a fool for me come back here. it constantly remind you when the storm was going on. it looks like it never went. you have empty houses. nothing that we can do about it. somebody else will have to come in and do it for us. >> my name is liz mccartney, im one of the co-founders of the st. bernard project. were a non-profit rebuilding organization that helps families rebuild their homes....

Katrina, hosted by anderson cooper, catches up with cnn heroes, 2008 hero of the year, liz mccartney is committed to rebuilding homes. check out this preview. >> when katrina hit, we were living in d.c. zach, my boyfriend, we came to new orleans to volunteer. and when we got here, we were totally shocked by the physical devastation. we knew that more than anything, people needed to get back into their homes. so we started the st. bernard project. we rebuilt homes, to date, weve done just about 3...

Bernard project. the first time i met the volunteers, i just like bawled. >> i think the relationships are such a significant part of it. >> you dont understand how much -- >> its important to build new homes in the lower ninth ward, im excited to think that this empty lot will be a beautiful home that the family can move into. it will be affordable and a place people are proud to call home. the country needs new orleans to be back. we want to create, we want to be a strong place. we want to be ...

Of the economic impact. people just arent earning enough money, arent receiving funds to support their families. the unknown is really devastating, so its causing tremendous anxiety, unfortunately, suicidal ideas are rising. i dont know if you are have, but one-third of the people inside the oil impact area have mental health issues, about 40% of young people are finding it hard to concentrate and study, so there is a real impact from this oil spill on peoples lives. its fixable. thats what we h...

That now there have been three requests to bp by the state of louisiana, by the health secretary there, for money and still no response. still no money. what do you make of that? >> its disheartening, rand di, ill tell you. its causing trauma to our clients as well. its one thing that the clients have to work for bp now, the folks who they believes that really caused irreparable impact to their way of life. i think people are still hopeful. the oil industry over the years has been really good to...

Can do, he cant. its stuck in there, bubbling. >> reporter: how is the anger coming out? >> it comes out -- he started drinking. hes smoking more when were trying to quit. he takes it out on us in general. we do something that would make him upset and all of the other stress piled up on top of that. he blows up. >> rachel morris wants to help. shes learning how to navigate the emotional pressures at group wellness classes like this one at the st. bernard project. other gulf wives are here today,...

>> reporter: hows that anger coming out? >> it comes out -- he started drinking. hes smoking more when were trying to quit. he takes it out on us just in general. we do something that kind of would make him upset and all of the other stress kind of piles on top of that. he blows up. >> reporter: rachel morris wants to help. shes learning how to navigate the emotional pressures at group wellness classes like this one at the st. bernard project. other gulf wives are here too. same problem. >> ive ...

>> it comes out -- he started drinking. hes smoking more when were trying to quit. he takes it out on us just in general. we do something that kind of would make him upset and all of the other stress kind of piles on top of that. he blows up. >> reporter: rachel morris wants to help. shes learning how to navigate the emotional pressures at group wellness classes like this one at the st. bernard project. other gulf wives are here too. same problem. >> ive got one at home right now that need but w...

Experiencing emotional trauma since the spill. fisherman like louis lund jr. who can no longer fish because of the oil. his wife says hes full of rage. >> he wants to go on a rampage, screaming, punching, hitting, whatever he can do, and he cant, and he just cant get it out. its just stuck in there bubbling. >> reporter: hows that anger coming out? >> it comes out -- he started drinking. hes smoking more when were trying to quit. he takes it out on us, just in general. we do something that kind ...

General. we do something that kind of would make him upset and all the other stresses kind of pile on top of that, so he blows up. >> reporter: rachel morris wants to help, learning how to navigate the emotional pressures at group wellness classes like this one at the st. bernard project. other gulf wives are here, too, same problem. >> ive got one at home right now that needs to vent, you know. >> who wont. hell fuss at me or him or the kids. >> reporter: among other things, the group is taught...