More than four years have passed since terrible Hurricane Katrina ripped all the way through New Orleans, and the images of demolished buildings also homeless families have washed out from our memories. But the nightmares are still a certainty for the more than Fourteen thousand (14,000) families in New Orleans still living off Disaster Housing Assistance Program vouchers along with the countless internally displaced persons.
Unfortunately for those 14,000 families, the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP) vouchers perish this month. According to Amnesty International, the government estimates regarding half of those families might be eligible for Housing Choice Vouchers and allowing them to live in Section 8 housing. But what is the option for other families who do not qualify for section 8 housing?
“Each person has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health as well as well-being of his family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care also necessary social services,” according to the Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
If more than 7,000 families lose their homes, the United States (US) would be worsening to uphold this clause.
Now this is not the time to place disaster relief in New Orleans on the back burner, but it seems lots of Americans have pushed it to the back of their minds and consider it old news.
“I think it is totally not on everyone’s minds anymore just because the shock value is gone now,” said Hannah Nusz who is the co-director of the Alternative Breaks program.
The program directors have resolute to send a cluster of students to help clean up and build housing in New Orleans this winter break.
Alternative Breaks has gone to New Orleans in the earlier period but had no programs there last year. This year, Nusz said the program felt as if something was gone astray.
“Although there is a rebuilding of communities, rebuilding a homes and peoples’ life, that takes time,” Nusz said. “It is definitely not something that just happens in a few months.”
Nusz is completely right. The existing quagmire that will leave many Katrina victims with no housing is proof that reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in New Orleans are not yet over.
If only there were other forms of helping victims might turn to when federal aid runs out. Groups like American Red Cross, Oxfam America, and Louisiana Disaster Recovery also the NAACP Disaster Fund has helped since the hurricane hit. At slightest one of these organizations, Louisiana Disaster Recovery is still contributing their support, but there are around 1,000 of families who risk losing their homes at the closing stages of this month need a better relief effort.
Alternative Breaks does more than assist Katrina victims; moreover it provides a new perspective for the students involved. If more organizations still show up their interest Alternative Breaks are investing in the problem, New Orleans might make huge strides forward.
