I just moved to Louisiana and OMG .....

United States
February 11, 2007 11:24pm CST
Hi! I just moved from Indiana to New Orleans. The devastation here is unreal...and it's been a year and a half since the hurricane. It's so sad to see that WHOLE neighborhoods are still just destroyed and only have just a couple people living in them. People are still living in sheds and RV's...There is still so much damage. It's really heart breaking. I have been told by people (not sure how true it is) that the money to fix these homes has been given to the state of LA, however ONLY 500 people have been given funds. I want to help these people, these families...but I'm not sure how to.... So, please if you can think of any way that I could please suggest it!!! Thank you! ***Be thankful for what you have!!!***
2 people like this
4 responses
chaygylmommy
@chaygylmommy (2470)
• United States
12 Feb 07
My husband was there when the hurricane hit...he went back just 6 months ago and he said it doesn't even look like anything was done. My husband took tons of pics right afterward and then 6 months ago and I have to say that nothing really had changed that I could see. I know some stuff has been repaired, but it sure seems to be slow. A woman who works in our post office here in Texas was relocated here because she llived in New Orleans...she lost EVERYTHING She was expecting to be here no longer than a year and she's still here. It's really sad.
3 people like this
ladygator
@ladygator (3465)
• United States
12 Feb 07
one way that comes to mind is to maybe hold self building meetting somehow. I would think that building needs to come from the inside out. What these people have been through has not only destroyed their home. I remember the saying Home is were the heart is. Their homes were distroyed.
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Riptide
@Riptide (2758)
• United States
17 Feb 07
I think it's outrageous and really sad, that not more is being done to help these people. Here we are spending billions of dollars for a war and in rebuilding a foreign country, when here at home people are suffering and in need of help. I don't think that money should have been giving to the state of LA, but instead it should have been distributed to the families in need right from the start.
1 person likes this
Stephanie5
@Stephanie5 (2946)
• United States
17 Feb 07
I agree. I was talking to a woman and she told me that she didn't qualify for a FEMA trailer, so she had to take out a loan through the government for one. It took her EIGHT freaking months!! And she has been living in it for almost 17 months now. That's bull!!! In Gulfport, Mississippi there are people still living in SHEDS! Yes, SHEDS! Tiny little sheds. I wish I had millions,because I would give it all to them to help everyone atleast have a place bigger than 10 x10 to call home, even if it was temporary. It's just so sad that our own country is suffering so bad and it seems like no one will help them. I just wish I could do something for them, I just don't know where to start. I did have an idea though...tell me what you think. I am going to start buying, fixing and resaling homes (flipping houses). And I know I wouldn't be able to do it for a lot of people but I would love to do a couple homes to make some money and then search for a home that an elderly person or a large family lost and fix it back up for them and just give it to them! I think that would be so great. I'm sure it won't be simple, but that is one of my goals. Another one is to buy a VERY large building and turn it into a shelter so atleast some families can get out of those sheds! It all just breaks my heart. Let me know if you can think of anything else I can do!!
Stephanie5
@Stephanie5 (2946)
• United States
21 Feb 07
That's a great idea about the low rent with option to buy!!! Then maybe I could help more than just one family! Thank you! If you have any more ideas, please let me know!
Riptide
@Riptide (2758)
• United States
17 Feb 07
I think the house flipping is a great idea. Even if it only helps one family, that is one family less that has to suffer. And who knows, some people might see what you are doing and will follow suit. Sometimes it just takes one person to have the courage to start something and then the rest will follow. I don't know how many people you know there, since you just moved there, but maybe some friends want to help too, then you could buy up old houses and you could all help together to fix them up and maybe rent them out very low maybe with the option to buy, like a rent with option to buy.
1 person likes this
carissa765
@carissa765 (1097)
• United States
12 Feb 07
The only advise I can give you is do what you can when you can... Maybe for the children of the really impoverished places you can start up a youth center, or some place that they can get into helping rebuild and paint the houses for the people of their community... other than that all I can say is come home I miss you:( I knw you are happy and I would not ask you to leave... Congrats on your move and hope to see you soon...
1 person likes this
Stephanie5
@Stephanie5 (2946)
• United States
13 Feb 07
Awe you are so sweet! I miss you too! I'm going to come back to visit soon...and get the rest of my things. I will see you before then, when you come visit me! :-) xoxox
1 person likes this