Among the most impacted communities of New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina was the Lower 9th Ward. The disaster rendered 100% of the homes in the area unlivable. One may think that, as we approach the 16th anniversary of the hurricane, the housing situation would have recovered substantially. However, it is very much the opposite. Houses cost much more to rebuild than what they are actually worth, so a large portion of residents simply did not return to the area post-Katrina. Overgrown, abandoned lots litter the lower 9th ward while low-income housing is in such high demand.
Aerial shot of Lower 9th Ward in 2015 - Ricky Carioty, The Washington Post
The Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (CSED) is a nonprofit organization that “...focuses on coastal rehabilitation, greening the built environment and increasing food security by lifting up and strategically reinforcing community driven goals throughout our work of creating an economically, culturally and environmentally sustainable Lower Ninth Ward.” They coordinate efforts from over 1,000 volunteers and groups per year on more than 500 neighborhood projects, from painting and weatherization to the installation of rain gardens, street beautification, and playground restoration. CSED offers valuable resources concerning community mapping and transportation safety along with their energy efficiency and rebuilding services.
Consider volunteering for CSED’s effort to rebuild the Lower 9th Ward: http://sustainthenine.org/volunteer-with-us/
Sources:
https://www.nola.com/news/katrina/article_a192c350-ea0e-11ea-a863-2bc584f57987.html