Housing Armageddon

If you've heard any news about New Orleans lately, it would probably be concerning the eminent war that is brewing around housing issues.

In an earlier post, I referenced the closure of several major public housing developments. Well... we've found out that HUD doesn't intend to open them. Public Housing developments at: Lafitte, B.W. Cooper, St. Bernard, and C.J. Peete will soon be bulldozed to make way for private development that will include mixed-use, market-rate units and a fraction of "affordable" units. See article:http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-25/1197268043214040.xml&coll=1

HUD hasn't responded with any alternative living situation for former residents, who are among the cities poorest, and who are largely the folks who are still displaced. These families are still able to live around the country by using FEMA $$ to pay their rent and living expenses--this will all end in 2009! Most residents here are bracing themselves for thousands of New Orleanians returning to the City and not having a place to live in 2009. Remember there is no Road Home $$ for renters. Renters will be at the mercy of their landlords who have in some cases tripled rents.

People here are calling this the next major humanitarian crises in New Orleans. One protest group has resorted to threats of burning new condo developments that rise in the place of public housing units. The fact is public housing has been a crutch for some families for generations. There has been a lot of dependence on a variety of assistance from the Federal gov't. for poor families across the country. Of course there are populations who genuinely need assistance, i.e. the elderly and disabled. However, to try to change the "hand- out" mentality of able-bodied individuals and prepare families for true independence you have to prepare a long-term plan. It may take another generation or two; this mentality certainly wasn't created overnight. It dates back to slaves and slave owners. Some in the South still carry that, "Master will take care of me," mind set; however meager the crumbs, some people made a living off of them and had no other legit plan.

There needs to be education and skills development, financial and emotional counseling for families, childcare assistance and so much more in place before you simply cut everyone off. Pray for New Orleans, again.