NYC Presbyterians Visit
New Orleans Disaster Sights
Robert Adamski, Elder
Bay Ridge United Church
Presbytery of NYC (PNYC)
As part of the trip to Gulfport, Mississippi the members of the PNYC traveled to New Orleans to hear and see what is being done to recover from Katrina. After driving an hour and a half to the John Calvin Presbyterian Church in Metairie, Louisiana, they were briefed by a representative of the Presbytery of Southern Louisiana whose church became the site for the first volunteer village in Louisiana. She explained how this occurred after students from Austin College wanted to come to New Orleans to help.
A video was shown about the need and volunteers and told of a boy throwing one beached starfish of hundreds back into the water and his father saying he’d never make a difference. The boy’s response was he made a difference for that one proving that everyone can do something to help.
She described how the Presbytery has just called a new Associate Presbyter for recovery and new church development. They have signed an agreement with Gentile Presbyterian Church to set up an office in New Orleans and are undertaking a new initiative “Home for Christmas” to try to get 300 families back in their homes by 2007.
Their web site states:
Out of chaos, hope...Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by. -Psalms 57:1
They have estimated that $10,500 is needed for each family and so $3 million is needed for this effort. They have applied to
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) for a grant but have been told that materials are not eligible. They have partnered with Catholic Charities and are participating in
GNODRP (Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery Partnership) which has 50 members and is trying to coordinate volunteer efforts.
Estimates are that of the 400,000 New Orleans residents who left only about 200,000 are now in the city. The City Council passed an ordinance that said they will not pick up any more debris after August 2006 so it is presumed that all of the “gutting” of homes is completed.
The Louisiana Road Home Program has been slow to assist victims. Affordable housing is being explored with the
“Katrina Cottage” (see below) designed by New York designer Marianne Cusato. It is a 308 square foot prefab that can be built for around $30,000 and installed in five days by volunteers. Unfortunately FEMA will not fund these permanent units, only trailers. It is estimated that 200,000 houses are needed and it took Habitat for Humanity 30 years to build this many.
Volunteers are still needed but the current activities aren’t news as demonstrated when the Presby
terian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA) met in New Orleans last week and one of the attendees was told by their cab driver that everything is back to normal.
The group then traveled to the Ninth Ward to meet with other PDA Young Professional Volunteers (YPVs) at the
Desire Street Ministries There they heard about the efforts begun in 1990 to improve conditions in this neighborhood and CURE (Churches United for Revitalization and Evangelism.)
One of their projects was a school that was toured. In partnership with CURE, Desire Street Ministries has formed a Christian Community Development Corporation called CDC 58:12. Based on Isaiah 58:12 which states:
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
The CDC will focus on developing affordable housing for low to moderate income families and providing economic development opportunities beginning in the Ninth Ward for residents who want to return to New Orleans. Of the 5000 people from the area only about 100 have returned. Pastors are trying to stay in touch with the residents by holding services where they have evacuated to like Houston and then returning to restore their homes. The school is now a boarding school that initially was in Florida but is now in Baton Rouge. The group then drove through the Ninth Ward, all through the upper, some through the lower. Everyone was struck by the empty houses which symbolized broken lives and displaced families. There were a few signs of rebirth- one grocery store, one diner, a habitat for Humanity sign, but not a lot. It left everyone wondering where is the hope supposed to come from.
Tourists were on Bourbon Street and around the landmarks, but you somehow get the feeling the tourists are still mainly construction workers and volunteer groups on leave. The streets, though nearly deserted, are still beautiful and charming. The city hopes to encourage more tourism by keeping the area inviting and safe.
They have estimated that $10,500 is needed for each family and so $3 million is needed for this effort. They have applied to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) for a grant but have been told that materials are not eligible. They have partnered with Catholic Charities and are participating in GNODRP (Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery Partnership) which has 50 members and is trying to coordinate volunteer efforts.
terian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA) met in New Orleans last week and one of the attendees was told by their cab driver that everything is back to normal.
