Soles4Souls Announces Completion of First Haiti Housing Project

Soles4Souls has provided sustained relief to Haiti since the earthquake in January, including distributing more than 1 million pairs of shoes to the victims.

(NASHVILLE, Tn.) - Soles4Souls Inc., the international shoe charity dedicated to providing shoes to people in need, announced this morning it has finished construction on its first housing project in Haiti. The house, which will provide permanent shelter for up to 12 people, was constructed near the capital of Port-au-Prince.

The home is one of many planned by the shoe charity, which will break ground on the construction of 4 additional homes in a few weeks. The charity estimates that building the 4 homes will cost approximately $100,000 USD. Soles4Souls also plans to build one home per month in Haiti in 2011.

"Soles4Souls has seen firsthand the devastating conditions in the tent cities in Port-au-Prince, and we are in awe of how little has been done to move these people into safer, more sanitary living conditions," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. "Thanks to our incredible donors, we are now able to provide the suffering people of Haiti more than just shoes and clothing -- we are offering a safe place for their families to lay their heads."

Soles4Souls has provided sustained relief to Haiti since the earthquake in January, including distributing more than 1 million pairs of shoes to the victims. The charity has pledged a long-term commitment to the country and has declared ongoing Haiti relief projects as a key initiative in the coming year.

To learn more about Soles4Souls and the housing project in Haiti, or to donate funds, visit www.giveshoes.org.

Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects, recycles and reuses shoes from warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. We distribute usable shoes to people in need around the world (we recycle less than 2% of donated footwear). Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away nearly 12 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently distributing one pair every 7 seconds). The shoes have been distributed in 125 countries, including Haiti, Kenya, Nepal and the United States. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Visit www.giveshoes.org for more information.

Soles4Souls is proud to announce the launch of their new division, Clothes4Souls. We strive to increase dignity and hope for hurting people through the gift of new clothing from manufacturers, designers, and retailers. Those who graciously donate (rather than destroy) unused inventory will be assured the clothes will be given to people around the world living in desperate need. Visit www.clothes4souls.org for more information.