Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation Faces $20.5M Lawsuit Over Defective Katrina Homes

The promise was hope rising from the floodwaters. For families devastated by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, actor Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation offered a lifeline: brand new, affordable homes. Yet, for many residents, the dream house built by the star’s charity became a nightmare of mold, structural failures, and mounting legal battles, culminating in a $20.5 million lawsuit that continues to shadow Pitt years later. What began as a celebrated humanitarian effort now stands as a stark lesson in trust betrayed and corners catastrophically cut.

How Did Brad Pitt’s Post-Katrina Housing Project Fail Homeowners?

Leveraging his immense celebrity, Pitt launched the Make It Right Foundation in 2007 with a mission to construct sustainable, affordable housing in the hardest-hit Lower Ninth Ward. Fundraisers, including a star-studded “A Night To Make It Right” concert, generated significant sums. By 2015, the foundation had built 109 homes, reportedly spending an average of $250,000 per house but selling them to residents for $150,000. Initially praised for their innovative design and becoming a minor tourist attraction, the homes’ flaws soon became impossible to ignore.

Residents quickly reported pervasive problems:

• Widespread Mold: Poor ventilation and construction materials led to dangerous mold infestations.
• Structural Deficiencies: Homes suffered from rotting wood, electrical hazards, and plumbing failures.
• Material Failures: Reports indicated the use of substandard or inappropriate building products.

Estimates suggest a staggering 103 of the 109 homes developed significant defects, leaving families who had already endured Katrina’s trauma facing new health risks and financial ruin. Instead of sanctuary, they found themselves trapped in deteriorating properties, feeling profoundly misled. “They had lost the lives they had built and discovered they placed their trust in the wrong hands,” as reported by sources close to the case (Yahoo!, Jan 2025).

Legal Repercussions Mount Against Foundation and Pitt

The homeowners’ frustration erupted into a $20.5 million lawsuit against the Make It Right Foundation. Pitt, named personally as a defendant, has fought vigorously to be removed from the case, arguing his role was limited to fundraising. Courts have repeatedly rejected these efforts, signaling his direct involvement is central to the claims. The lawsuit alleges negligence, fraud, and breach of contract related to the construction quality and financial management.

A critical turning point came early in 2025 when plaintiffs won a major legal motion. The court compelled the foundation to turn over its detailed financial records for discovery, potentially revealing how the millions raised were actually spent (Yahoo!, Jan 2025). This transparency could be pivotal in proving the homeowners’ claims of mismanagement.

Attempts to settle the massive claim have been fraught. In 2022, the non-profit Global Green USA reportedly agreed to pay the entire $20.5 million settlement on Pitt’s and the foundation’s behalf. However, this solution collapsed when it was revealed Global Green lacked the funds to fulfill the agreement, throwing the case back into active litigation. The focus now is compelling Pitt’s deposition. His legal team has cited his demanding schedule filming the Formula 1 movie worldwide, arguing his absence would cause substantial production losses. Pitt has also claimed his testimony wouldn’t yield “relevant information,” a stance met with skepticism by plaintiffs seeking accountability.

The search for answers and accountability continues as Lower Ninth Ward residents endure the lasting consequences of foundations built on shifting ground.

Must Know

1. What is the Make It Right Foundation lawsuit about?
   Homeowners in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward sued Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation for $20.5 million, alleging the homes built after Hurricane Katrina were defectively constructed with pervasive mold, structural issues, and material failures, causing health risks and financial loss. Pitt is named as a defendant.
2. How many homes did Brad Pitt’s foundation build?
   The Make It Right Foundation constructed 109 homes in the Lower Ninth Ward between 2007 and 2015. Shockingly, reports indicate only 6 were free of major defects, leaving over 100 families facing serious problems.
3. What was Brad Pitt’s role in the Make It Right Foundation?
   Brad Pitt founded the Make It Right Foundation and was its primary public face, leveraging his celebrity for fundraising. He is personally named in the lawsuit, and courts have rejected his repeated attempts to be removed as a defendant, suggesting his involvement was significant.
4. Has there been a settlement in the Katrina homes lawsuit?
   A potential $20.5 million settlement involving Global Green USA paying on Pitt’s behalf collapsed in 2022 when it became clear Global Green lacked the funds. The lawsuit remains active, with plaintiffs pushing forward to depose Pitt and examine the foundation’s finances.
5. What were the main problems with the Make It Right homes?
   Residents reported severe issues including dangerous mold growth due to poor ventilation, structural problems like rotting wood and unstable foundations, electrical hazards, plumbing failures, and the use of substandard or inappropriate building materials.
6. Is Brad Pitt still involved with the Make It Right Foundation?
   The Make It Right Foundation effectively ceased operations around 2018 amidst the mounting legal troubles and controversy. Pitt is no longer actively involved, but remains embroiled in the ongoing lawsuit related to the foundation’s actions.