Housing Funds

GULFPORT, Miss. - The Gulf Coast Community Foundation will administer more than $30 million donated for Hurricane Katrina recovery.

The money comes from the Mississippi Hurricane Katrina Recovery Fund, which Gov. Haley Barbour established for contributions pouring in from individuals, companies and foundations.

Rodger Wilder, the foundation's executive director, said so far $15 million is earmarked to rebuild and repair homes, and $6 million to build community centers in George County, Pearlington, west Gulfport, Woolmarket and Biloxi and other areas to be determined.

Eligibility for housing funds will be determined through a series of roundtables and committees that focus on unmet needs in the six South Mississippi counties.

"We're not going to make the decision as to who gets the money," Wilder said Thursday. "It's going to be done through the roundtable, and they have a case management process that's been operating pretty well."

Wilder said the funds will be available immediately.

The foundation already has handed out $6 million in Katrina-recovery grants to individuals and organizations.