Sean Penn’s J/P HRO group has been chosen by the Haitian government–via the World Bank — to receive a $2.25 million grant. The project, called “Helping People Home,” is part of a $95 million larger project to get displaced Haitians back into their own homes. The project is “designed to help provide homes through rental subsidies and new permanent housing construction, as well as provide home repair for existing houses.” Sean Penn should be very proud of what he’s accomplished–now he has the recognition of the World Bank. No mention, though, of his former partner, Diana Jenkins, who got J/P started but seems to have fallen out with the group subsequently.
”We believe this grant marks an important step in the rebuilding of Haiti,” Penn said in a press release. “To have the Haitian Government, with the finance from the IDA grant, select J/P HRO to participate in this program is a testament to the determination of our staff, our volunteers, and supporters. Together, we will persist until the hundreds of thousands still displaced are safely home.”
Celebrities have been very involved in raising money for Haiti relief. Ben Stiller has a fundraiser next week in New York withBill Clinton and Paul Farmer. Check it out at www.artistsforhaiti.com
More from the Penn release: “In addition to providing rent subsidies to safe and safely repaired homes, repairing homes still damaged by the
earthquake and building brand new homes in the neighborhoods around camp, J/P HRO will also be providing
new infrastructures and services including 2 new medical facilities, repairing condemned schools, installing 5
solar-powered water filtration stations and 1 plastic recycling kiosk, as well as providing new job opportunities
and support for local entrepreneurs. Additionally, the students of J/P HRO’s school, Ecole de L’Espoir (School
of Hope), will benefit from tuition waivers and feeding programs through the IDA financed program, Ecole Pour
Tous (School for All) implemented by the Government of Haiti,
Over the past 18 months, J/P HRO has helped facilitate nearly 2/3 of their initial 55,000 camp residents’ return
home. J/P HRO has managed this tremendous accomplishment through safe and proactive camp
management combined with recovery work in the neighborhoods including rubble removal, demolition of
condemned houses and partnerships to provide transitional homes. The remaining 22,300 people still living in
camp are those most in need. These families require significantly more support in order to exit camp and begin
to rebuild their lives.”
PS Just an observation, but Penn’s ex, Madonna, might take an interest how her former husband has made a vital contribution to an impoverished country. Her Raising Malawi organization has done nothing but cause disappointment and lawsuits in that African nation.
