In the Wake of Katrina: The Continuing Saga of Housing and Rebuilding in New Orleans

Carr, J.H.; Marcus, H.B.; Jagpal, S.N.; Kutty, N.
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

January 1, 2008

This paper focuses on the central role played by housing in New Orleans in determining the city’s social and economic recovery, reconstruction progress and longterm survival. Initial signs of progress surfaced in late 2006 as some private homeowners received funds to help them rebuild. At the same time, a program was launched to help owners of small rental properties. However, private housing reconstruction efforts remain very uneven. Although demolition of certain public housing stock began in midwinter 2008 – despite protests by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, other groups and residents – construction has yet to start on replacement housing. Despite the establishment of the city-wide Office of Recovery Management at the end of 2006 to provide much needed coordination and accountability, many challenges remain. Even with the momentum from the creation of a Unified Plan and release of $1.1 billion in redevelopment funding, New Orleans’ future remains precarious.

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