| Who: | New Orleans Residents and Supporters for the Re-Opening of Public Housing |
| What: | Residents Continue to Reclaim Their Homes |
| Where: | Florida Public Housing Development (2500 block of Bartholomew Street) |
| When: | Saturday, June 10, 2006 9:30a.m. |
The Fight to Re-Open Affordable Housing Continues
New Orleans, LA- This Saturday, June 10, Florida Housing Development scatter-site residents return to their apartments to continue the cleanup that HANO has so far, refused to do. Residents intend to reclaim their apartments, and are part of a broader effort to reopen public housing in New Orleans.
Renell Carter is one of the residents of the Florida site who will be working on her unit in order to clean it and return home permanently. She recently stated, "This is my home. I lost my only brother in the Florida Housing Development 4 years ago, over $10.00, but I am here with my daughters to make it a better place. I’m staying. I worked and had a nice place. If HUD/HANO says they want the people from the developments to be self sufficient and independent, why can’t they spend the $835.00 voucher money on home ownership programs instead of the raggedy box I was staying in after Katrina?”
Many of the participants, collaborative national groups and area residents, both displaced and returning have committed to continue the efforts in New Orleans, throughout the Gulf South and to take their issues from City Hall to Congress.
Locally the Survivor's Council continues to meet in the lower 9th ward, every Saturday, at 11am, in the Sanchez Building. The Council is composed of residents from the lower 9th ward, public housing residents, and community supporters, joined together in an effort to restore the lower 9th and all endangered neighborhoods in New Orleans.
The tens of thousands still without permanent, secure and affordable housing continue to build support for their cause. Without answers or signs of any just or comprehensive plan from HANO, HUD, the City, or the federal government, the movement to re-open New Orleans public housing developments continues to grow.
Lawsuits, legislative education, grassroots actions, will continue until an equitable recovery process is followed through. "It's a shame that such measures must still be taken for basic humane treatment to be provided, but it's encouraging to see people coming together."- C. Mahr a New Orleans resident.
This weekends' action is the third in a series of planned events that included the opening of the Survivor's Village on June 3rd. The Survivor's Village, in the 3800 block of St. Bernard Ave., will serve as a temporary center for residents and community supporters to come together and fight the unfair practices of HANO/HUD.
Participants hope these efforts will help fuel progress toward ending the housing crisis and expand to tackle the full spectrum of issues that still face New Orleans.
Resident Organizers and Support Group representatives will be available for comment.
Contact:
Ishmael Muhammad, People’s Organizing Committee, 504.872.9591
Nicole Banks- 504.701.0849
New Orleans Public Housing Committee Chair, New Orleans Survivor Council
Elizabeth Cook, United Front for Affordable Housing 504.319.3564