Branstad touts effort to raise money for Haiti

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says officials are looking to raise an additional $300,000 to provide housing for people left homeless by a devastating earthquake last year in Haiti.

The governor was joined Monday at his weekly news conference by officials from Sheffield-based Sukup Manufacturing Co., which has designed metal housing units that can house up to 10 people. The units cost about $5,700 to build and another $1,000 to ship to Haiti.

Officials are hoping to build up to 48 homes as part of the effort. They say the need is enormous because 600,000 people are still living in tents.

Laurens farmer Ken DeYoung has flown more than 50 humanitarian missions to Haiti, and he joined Branstad in announcing the effort.