The Hurricanes of 2005

Learn how we helped Gulf residents in 2005-2006 [PDF 1.1M].

Special Hurricane Relief

Freddie Mac and the Freddie Mac Foundation have donated more than $17 million since 2005 to support Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Most recently, in June 2007, Freddie Mac and the Freddie Mac Foundation announced a combined $5 million charitable investment to help stabilize low- to moderate-income families in New Orleans. The funds will be used to rehabilitate and rebuild housing as well as provide critical resident services such as job training and health care.

Read more in the 2007 news release about our latest contributions.
Read more in the news release about our 2005 contributions.

The Foundation's contribution includes:

• $900,000 to provide resident services to families returning to public housing

  This grant will support Enterprise Community Partners' efforts to provide resident services to families returning to LaFitte public housing in the Treme neighborhood. Enterprise is partnering with Catholic Charities of New Orleans and Providence Community Housing to restore and develop new housing in and around LaFitte. With this grant, the three organizations will link more than 300 returning families to resources such as food, clothing, furniture, transportation, mental and physical heath care, tutoring and job training and other services that will promote self-sufficiency.

• $900,000 to provide resident services including a pre-kindergarten program and health care at three housing projects

  The funds will support a resident services program in three housing projects that are being rehabbed and built by the NHP Foundation. The goal is to stabilize families living in the 877 affordable housing units in these facilities, which are located in Orleans Parish, Jefferson Parish, and the upper ninth ward. Services will include a pre-kindergarten program, parenting education, an after school enrichment program, and an on-site health and wellness program.

• $825,000 to help Katrina families now in the Washington, D.C. region

  The Foundation gave a $475,000 grant to Catholic Community Services to help survivors of Hurricane Katrina who relocated to the D.C. region. The funds will pay for housing, groceries, utilities and other household expenses for 33 families for three months. Freddie Mac employees will also volunteer their time to help these families. Read more in the news release.

  The Foundation donated $100,000 to The Katrina Open Arms Fund, managed by The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, to support those affected by Hurricane Katrina who evacuated to the metropolitan D.C. region. The fund supports efforts of local nonprofits to provide housing, medical care, food, clothing, mental health counseling, financial planning, and child care assistance.

  Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition received $250,000 from the Foundation to provide housing and other services to 10 families impacted by the disaster who now live in the D.C. region.

• $1 million to create The Katrina Fund for Foster Children

  The Foundation deepened its already-strong commitment to America’s foster children with the creation of this Fund. The Fund will help meet the needs of foster children and families, as well as the organizations that support them, affected by Katrina. The Foundation is working with two member organizations, the National Foster Parent Association and the Child Welfare League of America, in this effort. Read more in the news release.

• $100,000 to reunite missing children with their families

  The Freddie Mac Foundation awarded the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® a $100,000 grant for its efforts in locating and reuniting the more than 4,850 children missing or displaced from their families due to Hurricane Katrina.

• $475,000 to provide services to more than 200 families in Texas

  The Foundation's donation to the NHT/Enterprise Preservation Corporation will help provide services to more than 200 families, displaced by Hurricane Katrina, now living in Dallas and Houston. The grant will help create a communications center, equipped with computers, at a Dallas apartment complex that houses most of these families. It will also be used to provide case managers, transportation, furniture and household necessities for these families.

• More than $450,000 to match employee charitable contributions, for a combined $740,000 in relief donations

  To date, the Foundation has provided more than $450,000 to match the hurricane relief contributions of Freddie Mac employees. Employee contributions combined with the Foundation match total more than $740,000. The Foundation provided a 2-to-1 match for contributions to housing-related relief, and a 1-to-1 match for all other hurricane relief charitable contributions.

• $50,000 to Children to Children

  The Foundation donated $50,000 to Children to Children (a non-profit headed by 14-year-old Makenzie Snyder), allowing the organization to send more than 6,000 duffel bags, stuffed animals and personal notes to displaced Katrina victims. The event drew volunteers from all over the area, including Freddie Mac employees.

• $50,000 to Navy–Marine Corp Relief Society

  The Foundation donated $50,000 to help active duty and retired Sailors, Marines and their families impacted by the disaster. The Foundation support is part of the $1.8 million in disaster relief assistance the Relief Society has raised to help more that 4,500 service members.

• Army Emergency Relief

  The Foundation donated $25,000 to provide financial assistance for soldiers and their families affected by Hurricane Katrina. This investment is helping the Army Emergency Relief organization fulfill its mission of taking care of its own in the wake of this disaster.

• Air Force Air Society

  The Foundation donated $25,000 to assist vulnerable children and families who have been impacted by Hurricane Katrina. This emergency assistance helps to support housing, medical expenses and dental expenses.

• Coast Guard Mutual Assistance

  The Foundation invested $25,000 to assist Coast Guard members and their families who have been impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The Foundation support will provide emergency assistance to Coast Guard members and their families who need help in covering housing, food and or medical expenses.