Exciting things are happening in New Orleans!

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, our neighborhoods are rebuilding, and there is a new commitment to civic engagement across all sectors of the community. New Orleans unemployment rate these days is significantly lower than the national average, and homeownership is on the rise as people continue to repopulate the area and as a result of being displaced, want to firmly plant their roots in the community they love.

However, there is still much to be done.

Blighted properties remain a major obstacle for many neighborhoods seeking to create vibrant, safe communities; making our work more relevant and necessary than at any time in our 34-year history. In my 16 years as CEO of Neighborhood Housing Services, we’ve grown steadily in response to the demand for our services:

• Educating people to take control of their financial destiny through classes and one-on-one credit  counseling; 
• Building and renovating homes through our construction management services and Design/Build Center;
• Collaborating with neighborhoods to end blight, increase safety; stitching together the social fabric of our neighborhoods, and creating opportunities for investment.

I invite you to join us in the rebuilding effort by learning how to become a savvy homeowner; by utilizing our construction management services to take care of every detail of your home renovation project; by joining in our community organizing efforts, or by making a gift of financial support.

If we work together, the exciting possibilities for New Orleans are endless.

Sincerely,

Lauren Anderson, CEO