out of sight, out of mind

It seems that by now [a year and a half after hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, LA] the government would have helped the victims rebuild and return to their homes. But after visiting the city, the post-Katrina devastation is real and has become stagnant. I expected teams of people working together to rebuild, just as our studio is proposing to do, but within the four days I spent in the city, I saw only one site of construction. The government has so obviously done nothing to help the situation, so it is left to the communities to fight for their homes. The communities are relying on outside funding and volunteer labor from universities and organizations all over the country to bring natives back to their homes.

Not only is the government providing little, if any, financial assistance, but the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD) is suing the residents of the St. Bernard Housing Projects [in the 7th ward] for entering their own homes. The homes were declared structurally stable and able to be repaired, but HUD would not allow them to return to their homes. HUD plans to demolish 4500 low-income housing units and replace only 800 units. Out of those 800, less than 400 units will be designated for low-income families. Therefore, only one out of ten affordable housing units will be replaced. It is outrageous to deprive people of their homes that can be salvaged and even more so to legally sue the residents that are fighting to repair and live in their homes.

In the Holly Grove community, Trinity Christian Community has taken upon themselves to rebuild their community as well. Visiting the community made the disaster a reality. We reminded ourselves that EVERY home was effected by the hurricane and that every house represented a family, whose lives were drastically changed in one day. As we drove down Olive Street, flood lines were still visible on the siding of many houses. The maximum flood height was approximately 12 to 18 inches above the line of settlement, which means that the flood nearly reached the ceiling in many homes.

Before the trip, I would have never realized that people in New Orleans were still living in the midst of destruction in daily life. It wouldn't have crossed my mind that the people are relying on people like me to help. So, I want everyone to be reminded that the post-Katrina devastation is still CURRENT devastation. The government needs to take action and get people back into their communities.