Miss Celestine Thompson sent a note reading, “I am very pleased with all the work done on the inside and outside of my home. My thanks to all who worked so hard and so safely.” Her home had just been repaired by NOAHH’s home repair team with the help of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
CDBG, one of the longest-running programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, funds local community programs that address issues of affordable housing, anti-poverty work, and infrastructure. Each city works with the program to set their objectives and build partnerships locally in order to benefit low- and moderate-income families and individuals, prevent blight, and support other activities that address health or safety needs.
New Orleans Habitat also works with the city’s Office of Community Development Construction Group, the Louisiana Healthy Homes and Child Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, and local contractors. Because of the older housing stock in the city, many homes still have issues with lead paint, and the Healthy Homes Initiative helps address everything from lead hazard abatement to slip-and-fall prevention through fixing or updating stairs, doors, and bathrooms.
Through programs like CDBG and Healthy Homes Initiative, NOAHH helps homeowners remain in homes they have lived in for decades. Homeowners like Celestine won’t be forced out of their homes due to unsafe conditions, inaccessibility, or lack of maintenance, which stabilizes neighborhoods and preserves their culture and community.
“I love my home,” Celestine said. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”