Mourning partners with Innovida to rebuild Haiti

MIAMI (WSVN) -- A former Miami Heat player responded to the devastation in Haiti by helping those affected get a roof over their heads.

Alonzo Mourning announced his partnership with Innovida Holdings, a housing company based in Miami. "The beauty of this particular day is the fact that we are able to stimulate progress. The sad part about today is that so much pain and suffering had to evolve for us to come to this particular point," Mourning said. He, with the help of Innovida, plan to donate 1,000 homes in Haiti.

The homes will not only be easy to assemble, but will last a long time, according to project architect Claudio Osorio. "They are like boats," he said. "They are waterproof. They are also hurricane resistant, excellent in seismic events, with 20 degree flexibility."

Osorio said careful planning and research went into the homes. In addition, cultural differences were reflected in the construction of each home. Another architect on the project, Andres Duany, stated, "We've ID'd four classes of the poor that live in very specific ways, and we are counting, after a great deal, five weeks of work, to have gotten it right."

Zo said the project fulfills a promise he made to Haiti's president. "President Preval, you know I make everyone look small, but he's a little guy. He stood on a chair, and he looked me in the eye, and he said, 'When the cameras leave, don't forget about us,'" Mourning recalled.

Innovida holdings plans to build an on-ground facility in Haiti by the end of 2010, with the ability to generate an additional 10,000 homes a year and create hundreds of local jobs. "The good thing about Innovida is that this is an investment in developing a new infrastructure for Haiti. It's a no-brainer to get involved and support this particular project because the most discouraging thing is being there and seeing the women and children suffer," Alonzo said.

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