The charity built homes that eventually left people displaced. But now it won’t pay the millions needed to solve the issue.
HIGHLIGHTS
Brad Pitt’s Make It Right charity built homes for Hurricane Katrina survivors in New Orleans but many of the homes have suffered from poor quality and residents have had to pay out-of-pocket for repairs and to move to better living conditions.
Despite his reported net worth of $400 million, Brad Pitt has declined to comment on the controversy and has not donated money to address the situation.
Much of Brad Pitt’s charity work has flown under the radar over the years, but that’s not only because he wants to maintain a low profile to stay humle.
The actor is still involved in controversy surrounding his charitable initiates following 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, with some of the natural disaster survivors still waiting for the financial compensation they were promised.
A new report by Boing Boing highlights the eyebrow-raising situation Pitt’s name is still implicated in. Shortly after the hurricane ravaged New Orleans, Pitt’s Make It Right charity vowed to build new homes for some residents in Lower Ninth Ward (a predominantly Black neighborhood), who were hit particularly hard by the tragedy.
Brad’s Charity Built Homes That Left People Displaced
Residents were able to buy the home for around $150,000, which though a significant sum, was $100,000 less than the cost it took to make the homes, with Pitt’s charity footing the rest of the bill.
While the homes eventually came into fruition, it didn’t take long for residents to discover the poor quality. The homes have allegedly suffered from electrical wiring (linked to fires), shoddy construction, and water damage.
Moreover, it’s been reported that the residents were forced to sign NDAs, preventing them from taking their problems public.
Despite various lawsuits attempting to recoup damages for the poorly-built homes, the report claims residents haven’t seen a dime. Many of them have had to pay-out-of-pocket to repair the homes and/or to move to better living conditions.
“They’ve had to pay for extensive repairs out of pocket, start GoFundMe campaigns or have simply had to walk away,” Boing Boing writes. “Two of the houses have been demolished and at least six are completely abandoned.”
Brad Won’t Donate His Money Despite $400 Million Net Worth
It’s been two years since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, but the report highlights that some people are stiff facing the ramifications of the disaster – and not just because of the hurricane itself.
Brad Pitt’s charity has (allegedly) displaced people even further, or at the very least, subjected them to unacceptable living standards, which, given what they went through, makes it all the more disgraceful.
Environmental non-profit Global Green stepped up in 2022 saying it would pay the $20.5 million needed to establish proper homes for the resident, but were unable to source the money. The non-profit has since launched a plan to donate $5 million and launched a GoFundMe page to raise money.
Despite the ongoing situation – and his reported net worth of $400 million – Brad Pitt has declined to comment on the New Orleans home controversy in recent years.
While some may argue he could personally fork up the $20 million and not feel that big a dent in his personal fortune, it doesn’t appear to be on the actor’s mind. Then again, amid reports he’s spent millions fighting his ex-wife Angelina Jolie in court, he’s already spent a fortune fighting legal battles over the years.