Five years after Hurricane Katrina, many low-income neighborhoods remain neglected.
The line over the front door of this 7th Ward home shows where the water settled during Katrina floods. (The water was initially much higher than this, until it finally settled).
The storm hit low-income areas the hardest. Without the financial capacity to rebuild, many of these residents were never able to return to their homes or the city.
The remains of a public housing development in the 7th Ward. This development provided affordable housing for at least 15,000 residents. After Katrina, it was fenced off and residents were not allowed to re-enter their apartments to collect their belongings. If they did, they were considered "trespassers." The development was later torn down and replaced with "mixed income condo style" housing which is unaffordable for residents of the old development, many of whom had lived there since the 1950's.
Where another public housing development once stood. With affordable housing rapidly diminishing (much of which was torn down after Katrina, and continues to be destroyed) many low-income residents are pushed out of New Orleans and forced to find affordable homes in other parts of the country.
Five years later, a call for help still remains on this roof in the Lower Ninth Ward. During Katrina, many residents were stranded on roofs like this for days. Many were never rescued.
A majority of homes in these neighborhoods have been plowed down or entire blocks remain vacant because people cannot afford to return. Empty lots such as this now stand where flourishing neighborhoods once existed.
Many residents are still struggling to rebuild their homes. We are doing our best to help in this process but due to lack of funds, it is slow going.
A volunteer group from Ithaca, NY working to rebuild a home. The woman who owns this house is currently paying her mortgage as well as rent to live in the house next door. So far, the rebuilding of her home has been a five year process and a great deal of work remains unfinished.
Homeowners working to rebuild.
The Camp ACE Education Building
After Katrina, only patchwork repairs were made to the Camp ACE Education building due to lack of funding. Damages to the roof led to gaping holes in the ceiling of the school. Luckily, with help from the Sunshine Lady Foundation we were able make repairs in order to run our summer program.
Before
After
Camp ACE Summer Enrichment Program...
Dance Contest. Several of our youth workers/volunteers.
HIV Outreach work. This billboard was displayed across the city.
Lower Ninth Ward Wedding
Community Gathering
Crawfish Boil (pre-BP oil spill)
I have been lucky enough to be invited into the homes and families of the community in which I work. Yesterday I was invited to the 90th birthday party of my honorary "Auntie," a woman who has served as a civil rights activist, fostered numerous at-risk children and has a raging sense of humor.
A state representative came to congratulate and present her with this certificate. Instead of thanking him she scolded him for failing to take her advice on a local housing issue.
Four generations of family
