When the earthquake hit Haiti in January 2010, it effectively leveled the most populous diocese of the Episcopal Church. Seventy percent of church buildings were considered a total loss. Diocesan-run schools, clinics, and hospitals that served over 100,000 Episcopalians, as well as countless community members, were wiped out in thirty-five seconds.
Many of the services we expect from the government — healthcare, education, culture — are provided in Haiti by the Episcopal Church. And many governmental agencies and non-government agencies (NGOs) have rushed to fill these needs in the aftermath. Episcopal Relief & Development is partnering with the Church in Haiti to provide short-term employment, provisional homes, and sanitation systems in addition to other community-focused recovery programs.
Out of the destruction of the entire Cathedral Complex, new life has begun to rise, full of possibilities. The Haitian government has granted the Episcopal Church a plot of land that will nearly double our presence in downtown Port-au-Prince. Responsible rebuilding requires a thorough site inspection and the development of a master site plan before construction of individual buildings can begin. The process will begin with formal requests for proposals from architects and builders.
