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Rebuilding Together New Orleans is a neighborhood revitalization program of the Preservation Resource Center. The program was formerly called Christmas In October. It is a local affiliate of Rebuilding Together U.S.A., based in Washington, D.C. The program pays for repairs for eligible low-income elderly and/or disabled homeowners in targeted neighborhoods. By improving the homes of low-income elderly and/or disabled homeowners, Rebuilding Together helps to initiate an upward spiral of neighborhood resurgence and civic pride. 2004 is the seventeenth year for the program in New Orleans. The program works with financial contributions from the City of New Orleans, corporations, foundations and individuals, donated materials and volunteer labor. Rebuilding Together is a marvelous celebration of what's right in New Orleans and gives those who care an opportunity to stand up for our city and improve the quality of life for many of its citizens. 2004 is the seventh year that New Orleans District employees
are participating in
the program.
In the previous six years, our district volunteers have worked on houses across
Leake Avenue from the district in the Uptown Triangle area and upriver in the
Carrollton Riverbend area. For 2003 our team worked
on a house in the Lower 9th
Ward.
The people in this area are also our neighbors because of the presence of the IHNC lock and the
major construction project of the lock replacement. Volunteers worked on the
first two Saturdays of October (October 4, 2003 and October 11, 2003) at the
house at 1939 Lamanche Street in the neighborhood of
the Corps' Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock. Volunteer
workers painted the exterior as well as making some minor repairs on the house. The
house was prepared and primed the first Saturday and caulked and painted the
second Saturday.
Rebuilding
Together 2004
Before
After In October 1998 employees
of the New Orleans District of the Corps of Engineers participated in the
Christmas in October program for the first time.
They built a wheel chair ramp for an elderly couple and did exterior painting on their house in the
Uptown Triangle area across Leake Avenue from the District In
October 1999 District employees teamed
up with volunteers from Liberty Mutual and Enterprise Rental to replace siding
and completely painted the exterior of the house of an elderly gentleman, again
in the Uptown Triangle area. Extensive repairs and painting were also done on the interior. In
October 0f 2000 District employees
again teamed up with volunteers from Liberty Mutual and Enterprise Rental to
completely paint the exterior and do extensive renovating and painting of the
interior of the house of legally blind low-income lady in the Carrollton
Riverbend area. Again in
2001 and 2002 volunteers from
the Corps teams with Liberty Mutual and Enterprise Rental to completely paint
the exterior of homes in the Carrollton Riverbend just up-river from the
District. By contributing their time,
energy, expertise, and sweat Corps volunteers have accomplished much.
The Rebuilding Together program and its predecessor Christmas in October
have helped to revitalize the neighborhoods where the volunteers have worked.
When a few homes get upgraded, other property owners follow suit.
One need only look at the Uptown triangle area across the street from the
district. This neighborhood has
very few abandoned or run down houses compared to five or ten years ago.
Our volunteers helped with this effort and in doing so they also helped
put a human face on the Corps for our neighbors. For their efforts they received
the joy of working as a team and gained the satisfaction of a job well done.
They know first hand the truth of the Biblical adage "It is more
blessed to give than to receive"
Before
After (5 years later)
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Contact:
Mike Murphree, CEMVN-IM-I New Orleans,LA 504-862-1103 mike.murphree@usace.army.mil Page updated: February 13, 2007
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