The National Mall, the heart of the nation's capital, became a construction zone as Freddie Mac joined Habitat for Humanity to build homes that would help house families affected by hurricanes in the Gulf Coast region. Congressional leaders and staff, administration officials, Habitat volunteers from across the country, celebrities, and 1,000 Freddie Mac volunteers completed frames for 51 homes, representing each state and the District of Columbia. "America Builds on the National Mall" started on Friday, November, 11, 2005 and continued for eight days. The building site adjoined Constitution Avenue between 14th and 15th streets. Follow Freddie Mac, Habitat for Humanity and thousands of volunteers during their effort to build 51 homes in eight days.
Nov 11 | Nov 12 | Nov
13 | Nov 14
Nov 15 | Nov 16 | Nov 17 | Nov 18
November 18
On this final day, volunteers and congressional delegations built the house frames representing the affected states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. 51 houses in eight days, and bringing homes back into the lives of 51 families. Gulf congressional delegations and the Barbour family from Alabama, a recipient of one of the homes, joined in the concluding ceremony.
November 17
Two days to go. Maine, Massachusetts, Kansas, Utah, Minnesota, Connecticut, Colorado and Idaho delegations worked with other volunteers to complete the eight houses, bringing the effort that much closer to the goal of 51.
November 16
The countdown began this day with only three days left to finish the remaining 20 of 51 houses. Delegations from Arizona, Illinois, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Kentucky, Nebraska and South Carolina joined hundreds of volunteers to work on their states' houses.
November 15
Volunteers hammered the last nails into the frames of the California, Tennessee, Missouri, North Carolina, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and Alaska houses, making delegations from these states proud.
November 14
After a weekend of hard work, and at the half-way point of America Builds on the National Mall, more volunteers, Washington VIPs and congressional delegations came together to add to the growing number of finished frames. The Ohio, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Oregon, Washington and Rhode Island houses were built, bringing the total number of houses to 23.
November 13
No rest for our volunteers and delegations from Vermont, Wisconsin, Indiana, Oklahoma as they gathered to build four more houses on the National Mall. Tourists and Washingtonians stopped to admire the newly built house frames as they enjoyed this clear, crisp Autumn day.
November 12
The second day of the build on the National Mall brought together delegations from Arkansas, Iowa, New Hampshire and Hawaii to build four additional houses. Among those at the work-site (in the photo to the right, from L to R): Michael Jack, GM of NBC-4; Ralph Boyd, EVP Freddie Mac; Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) Michael Chertoff, Secretary of US Department of Homeland Security; Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD); Tom Jones, Habitat for Humanity.
November 11
In honor of Veteran's Day, the kick off began with hundreds of volunteers lined up to start building the first seven of 51 houses, including the Nation’s House, representing the District of Columbia, which was a complete home much like the final ones that families received. The Nation's House stood in front of the Washington Monument throughout the eight days as a symbol of the country's unified commitment to rebuilding the Gulf Coast region. The Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Florida, Wyoming and West Virginia houses were also built this day and these states' congressional delegations were present to help with construction and to support volunteers.
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