Pitt unveils New Orleans housing plans

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Actor Brad Pitt said Monday that after his family, helping rebuild New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward is his top priority.

Pitt said on the "Today" show he is backing an environmentally friendly plan to build at least 150 homes for families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

The actor, who pledged $5 million toward the reconstruction, said the first of the homes should be ready by next summer.

"We're going to start with 150 homes. I mean, this area where we're standing right now, they've lost over 5,000," Pitt said, adding that he is in the process of trying to help raise more money for the project.

"I'm asking for foundations, for high net-worth individuals, for church groups, for corporations to come in and adopt a house. Basically, $150,000 will get a family back into their home," he said.

Asked what his priorities are these days, Pitt replied: "It's going to be family first, certainly. But that love of my family brings me here."

So, does this project come before filmmaking?

"I don't see why I have to let anything go at this point. But, right now, yeah, this is the focus and we're going to see this through," he said.