Page 11 - Bernard Project News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Like the ninth ward, but it was beautiful to me. i look at flood street and what i have to look at, i'll 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, i'm one of the co-founders of the st. bernard project. we're a non-profit rebuilding organization that helps families rebuild their homes. the lower ninth ward right now is -- only has about 20% of the people back. this neighborhood us...

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, we've done just about 300 houses. we've got more than 50 under construction. it usually takes anywhere from eight to 12 we...

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 don't understand how much -- >> it's important to build new homes in the lower ninth ward, i'm 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 the place to live in the u.s. in the next couple of years. there's a lot going on in this city, i...

Of the economic impact. people just aren't earning enough money, aren't receiving funds to support their families. the unknown is really devastating, so it's causing tremendous anxiety, unfortunately, suicidal ideas are rising. i don't 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 people's lives. it's fixable. that's what we have to remember. >> if the money ever does come what would you use it for? >> the st. bernard...

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? >> it's disheartening, rand di, i'll tell you. it's causing trauma to our clients as well. it's 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 the people of louisiana, and i think we're hopeful that at the end of the day bp will do the ri...