Good news for Gulf Coast affordable housing development

originally posted on jspot.org: home of the new Jewish netroots
by Laura Wintroub

[update: the House passed the tax bill late last night by a 277-148 margin, sending the bill - with a one year GO Zone tax credit extension - to the President to be signed]

(New Orleans Times-Picayune)

We’ve written before about the Gulf Opportunity Zone tax credits, which were set to expire at the end of the year.  The end of those credits threatened to halt several important affordable housing and business development initiatives in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

Late yesterday came the good news that the Senate approved a one year extension through 2011 as part of tax bill.  Though it wasn’t the two year extension initially requested by Senatory Landrieu, her office expressed optimism in securing the hoped for two year extension in early 2011 after receiving bipartisan commitment  from Senate leaders.

Watch the proceedings from the Senate floor and read more here.

Bridging Troubled Waters in the Gulf

The disasters in the Gulf – from Hurricane Katrina to the oil spill – threaten to drive communities apart as environmental and economic situations deteriorate and anxiety about the future rises. Yet, sometimes these tragedies bring communities together, even those that have not historically worked side by side. That is the story of an Orthodox and Reform Jewish community in New Orleans, who have been sharing common space since one congregation lost their building in the storm.

Through sharing space, they share religious teachings and traditions, build stronger community, and begin to become “apostles of pluralism,” says one of the rabbis involved.

As a recent article on the partnership explains, “The tale of how Orthodox and Reform communities came to plan their future together is one that combines fate, compassion and the most unlikely of warm relationships between the Orthodox and Reform rabbis at the helm of their respective congregations.”

The New York Jewish Week recently covered their inspiring story, and it’s one we are happy to share as we build partnerships throughout the faith community, within and beyond the Gulf Coast.

Thinking About Disaster Relief Before the Disaster Hits

The current Nonprofit Quarterly has an interesting article about innovative thinking happening at Southern Mutual Help Association, an organization based in rural Louisaiana directly hit by Katrina, about planning for disaster relief before the disaster happens.  Five years after Katrina, the Gulf Coast region continues to rebuild, and it continues to rely on financing and support raised in the aftermath of the storm to carry out those rebuilding efforts. (more…)

Remembering Katrina: A Reflection

Leslie G. Woods serves as the Representative for Domestic Poverty & Environmental Issues in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness in Washington, D.C. Find resources to mark the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina in your community here. (more…)