WELCOME TO THE LOWER 9TH WARD

WELCOME TO THE LOWER 9TH WARD

Our team spent Sunday touring the 8th and 9th wards in New Orleans. These were the areas that were hit the hardest during Katrina. Even after all this time only 15% of the area is rebuilt and has housing available to families. We drove through streets in silence gazing at all the empty homes. Several times the kids asked ~ who lived here?? We have no way of knowing but felt drawn to empty spaces, concrete slabs and steps that no longer lead anywhere.

Musician's Village ~ built by Habitat for Humanity ~

This project of homes, started by Harry Conick Jr, has built rows of new homes for families.

Each family is responsible for "sweat equity" and are assisted by the Habitat as well as local and not so local musicians.

Houses on Johnson Ave in Musicians Village

We thought this was most appropriate for Ray Johnson and had to have a picture.


Kelly, Jamie, Megan and Lynda walking in the 9th ward.

Uta and Becki sitting on the porch of what was once a home in the 9th ward. We felt drawn to these steps and wondered who might of lived here and what memories this porch held. Becki crawled under the porch and found a plate buried in the dirt ~ the last possession of this family left by Katrina. What a tug on our hearts!

Home in the 9th ward that has not been rebuilt.

Make it Right Home ~ project sponsored by Brad Pitt ~ in the 9th Ward. This home is under construction. We saw several homes that were had residents. The streets were still very quiet and we saw no children!

The Levy Rebuilt

The white buildings are the Make It Right Project Site

Home that has been left since Katrina ~ markings still on the doors.

One of the most profound images in the Lower 9th ward is that all the homes ~ rebuilt or simply left ~ had the Katrina markings on the door. We saw many homes that were marked by SPCA. Each door listed how many animals were left or found in the home. One house said "lucky dog". We hoped that meant a lucky dog had been found.