Seeking a home after Katrina proves a nightmare

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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L10418219.htm

DAPHNE, Alabama, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Allan Harris holds his tourist guidebook in one hand and methodically phones one hotel after another. "Sorry sir, we're full," he hears time and again.

Harris is no tourist. He's a refugee from New Orleans, more than 150 miles east along the Gulf Coast, and is desperately looking for somewhere for his family to stay.

"It's a bad, bad scene," he says, finally conceding defeat and putting away his mobile phone.

Harris is just one of hundreds of thousands of Americans left homeless by Hurricane Katrina who are trying to restore order to their lives as they face the challenge of rebuilding.