NEW YORK, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Hollywood actor Brad Pitt has announced plans to back a new community of homes in New Orleans' hurricane-ravaged Lower Ninth Ward.
Pitt is partnering with producer Steve Bing to create 150 affordable and sustainable homes, which are the first effort of Pitt's "Make It Right" project.
The actor announced his plan at Wednesday's meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, where he challenged attendees to join him and Bing in rebuilding the Lower Ninth Ward.
Pitt and Bing have pledged to match $5 million each in contributions to the project.
"The heart and soul of New Orleans, specifically the people of the Lower Ninth Ward, are paramount to this project," Pitt said in a statement.
"The words of one elderly man who is determined to return to New Orleans led to the name of our organization: he asked us, directly simply and profoundly, to help make it right. So that's what we're doing," Pitt said, adding that the new homes will be "beautiful, safe structures that respect their spirit and provide a good quality of life."
Pitt became a part-time resident of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
