PRESS RELEASE
CORE receives grant from the American Red Cross to implement a Home Roofing Replacement and Hazard Mitigation Program in Lowndes County, Georgia
LOS ANGELES – October 2025 – CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) is pleased to announce a new grant from the American Red Cross to help people in Lowndes County, Georgia, affected by Hurricane Helene.
The award of $712,403 will fund CORE’s Home Roofing Replacement and Hazard Mitigation Program and will be completed between June 2025 and February 2026. This partnership aims to expand and enhance the services CORE provides to address critical housing needs for low-income and socially vulnerable residents in Lowndes County, Georgia, who were impacted by Hurricane Helene.
CORE has identified three communities in Lowndes County, including Valdosta, Dasher, and Lake Park. The project will repair 30 roofs of single-family and mobile owner-occupied homes to protect against future wind and water damage, ensuring safe and livable conditions for families. The program will also include hazard mitigation on select properties, such as the removal of trees, debris, and additional detached structures, such as carports or dwelling units, that may increase the risk of property damage in future disasters. The initiative will aid in regional economic recovery for individuals displaced and affected by the storm, including local contractors and construction workers who will be hired to complete the work.
CORE is a leader in disaster-resilient housing recovery, leveraging proven techniques like home hardening, fortified roofing, hazard mitigation, and resource navigation to address the unique needs of each community. By tailoring solutions to local hazards—whether hurricane-force winds, flooding, or wildfires—CORE bridges immediate relief with long-term resilience, helping families rebuild stronger and safer.
“We’re grateful for the Red Cross’s support in our ongoing response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. Even a year later, we know there is still such a tremendous need in the region,” said Zachary Brooks-Miller, CORE’s VP Programs & Partnerships. “Through this amazing program, we’ll be able to continue offering critical support and preparing communities for future disasters, which are becoming all too frequent and devastating.”
“Large-scale disasters in South Georgia are becoming more common, and they can be devastating to the local community,” said Robbie Sofaly, Director of Hurricane Helene and Milton Long-Term Recovery at the American Red Cross. “Partnering with organizations like CORE that are committed to supporting local recovery allows us to build our collective recovery capacity.”
This new partnership is part of the national Red Cross Long-Term Recovery Program, which supports individual and household recovery and addresses community-wide needs following a disaster.
Founded after the 2010 Haiti earthquake by Sean Penn and Ann Lee, CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) is a global humanitarian organization that empowers underserved communities in and beyond crisis. CORE’s community-powered work is informed and fueled by local hands. When crisis strikes, we listen, we learn, and we act to quickly fill gaps, mobilize resources, and develop long-term recovery solutions. With a focus on equity, CORE provides critical relief to marginalized and vulnerable people, from the conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan to hurricane-ravaged states across the U.S. and beyond. Learn more about CORE’s work at www.coreresponse.org, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or follow us on social media.