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What does the St. Bernard Project do?
The St.
Bernard Project is a grassroots nonprofit rebuilding organization
whose mission is to remove barriers for families who want to return
home. Our services include: Rebuilding Program, Senior Housing Program and Community Health and Wellness
Center.
Is St. Bernard Project a registered
501c3?
Yes! All donations are tax
deductible.
How much does it cost St. Bernard Project to rebuild an
average size home in St. Bernard Parish?
It costs on
average $12,000 and takes 12 weeks. Our rebuilding costs are low
because most of the labor is provided by volunteers.
How do you raise money to rebuild clients’ homes and pay
for other operational costs?
We receive donations from
volunteers, faith-based groups and individuals and grants from
foundations, corporations and civic groups. Some of our significant
donors include the United Way, GE Foundation, Tide, Starfish Group,
Newman’s Own Foundation, Women’s Leadership Council of the United
Way, Winn Dixie, Entergy, and the Braveheart
Foundation.
Is the St. Bernard Project a religious
organization?
St. Bernard is the name of the parish (or
county) in which we work. SBP is an independent 501c3 organization
and is not religiously affiliated although we have many faith-based
partners.
Who does St. Bernard Project partner
with?
SBP partners with AmeriCorps*NCCC,
AmeriCorps*State, AmeriCorps*VISTA, Church of the Brethren,
Christian Aid Ministries, One Brick, Habitat for Humanity, St.
Bernard Parish Government, and many faith-based groups, businesses,
families and individuals to achieve our mission.
How can I stay involved?
Become a Beacon! Our
Beacon Program gives volunteers an opportunity to stay involved even
when they return home. Beacons can help recruit more volunteers,
host fundraising events, inform their community about the needs in
St. Bernard. Please contact Andrea Bean This
e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript
enabled to view it , Volunteer Director, at or
(504)261-0345.
What are your current needs?
We always need
three simple ingredients to continue getting families back in their
homes: volunteers, funds for building materials and skilled
supervisors. We also always need more tools. To connect SBP with
more volunteers or skilled supervisors, please contact Andrea Bean This
e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript
enabled to view it , Volunteer Director, at (504)261-0345. To
connect us with donations or tools, contact Liz McCartney This e-mail
address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript
enabled to view it , (202) 431-3443.
How do you choose your clients?
Homeowners in
St. Bernard Parish who do not have adequate funds to hire a
contractor to rebuild their home can apply to the St. Bernard
Project for help. Applicants complete an application, are
interviewed by St. Bernard Project staff andpresent documents to
verify their need. We give special priority to senior citizens, the
disabled and families with young children.
How do you decide what work needs to be done on each
client’s house?
The homeowner and a construction manager
develop a rebuilding plan for the house. Clients select the colors
of the cabinets and countertop, flooring, bathroom fixtures and
appliances. All other materials used in the home are standard
materials that are used on every client’s house. The site supervisor
coordinates the volunteers, materials and tools that are needed to
carry out this rebuilding plan.
What are the steps it takes to
get someone back in their house? Roughly, the process is as
follows:
- Volunteers
treat the house for mold
- Volunteers
repair/replace the roof, windows and exterior doors as needed
- Staff
(and sometimes volunteers) electricians and plumbers install the
rough wires and pipes. House is inspected by Parish inspectors
- Volunteers
install the insulation and drywall and then texture and paint the
walls
- Volunteers
install the flooring, baseboard, window trim and interior doors
- Staff
(and sometimes volunteers) carpenter install the kitchen cabinets
and countertops
- Staff
(and sometimes volunteers) electricians and plumbers install the
final pieces: toilets, fixtures, switches, sinks, and appliances
- House
is inspected by Parish inspectors
- Client
calls power and water companies to start service
- Client
moves homes!
What was St. Bernard Parish like before the
storm?
St. Bernard Parish is an industrious community
comprised of middle class and working class families. It is a
community of veterans, of people who hold potluck dinners to benefit
disaster victims elsewhere, an area where local fishermen and
shrimpers give part of their daily catch to the less fortunate.
Generations of families lived within blocks of one another. And
neighbors could trace their friendships back to their grandparents
and beyond.
For most, all savings were tied up in their homes. In the years
before Katrina, insurance companies rezoned St Bernard out of the
flood plain, so most residents no longer had flood insurance after
decades of paying for it. Then Katrina hit, and the people of St
Bernard lost everything. Seventy-five percent of families were
under- or uninsured.
The first rescue crews into the Parish, five days after the
storm, were the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Residents felt
abandoned by the government for which they had fought and in which
they had believed. From their time in the military, they know the
United States can show up in force anywhere on the planet within
three days, yet after five days, they had to be rescued by caring
folks from another country.
After two weeks, the water was gone as were neighbors, friends,
and family, but people wanted to come back. There are no beautiful
mountains here. No lakes or beaches. No stunning vistas, yet the
residents have endured heartbreak and tribulation in their effort to
return. It may seem odd until one meets them and spends a few days
in their midst. The community, camaraderie, and courage in St
Bernard are something most of the rest of the United States dreams
of but cannot find. Having known it, the people of this parish won’t
let it go easily. And having known them, we cannot let that happen
either.
Before Katrina in St. Bernard
Parish
- The
population was 67,000 and the Parish had 27,000 homes and 14,000
businesses
- Unemployment
was only 4%
- Home
ownership rate was greater than 70%
- Median
family income was $36K
- Senior
citizens comprised 50% percent of the population prior to the
storm
- Residents
worked as fishermen, in the trades, and at refineries
After
Katrina
- 100%
of the homes in St. Bernard Parish were rendered uninhabitable
- St.
Bernard had standing water of 4 to 20 feet for up to 4 weeks
- Homes,
clothes, furniture, pictures, keepsakes, cars and tools were
destroyed
- Only
one-third of residents have been able to move back, with the vast
majority of returned residents still living in FEMA trailers or
attics that were above the waterline
- Just
one-third of the businesses have been able to re-open
Why does SBP rebuild homes for people who previously
rented?
Renters in the area were some of the most
vulnerable members of the community in the aftermath of the
hurricanes. Many of our clients, because they were renting, had no
insurance on their personal property. Renters lost everything too,
but they had no safety net. The St. Bernard Project believes that
getting these families to be first-time homeowners is vital to the
rebuilding efforts in St. Bernard Parish. Not only will these
families help rebuild the neighborhoods where their homes are
located, but they will also become rooted members of the community
with a vested interest in the community.
When was the St. Bernard Project founded?
Liz
McCartney and Zack Rosenburg founded the St. Bernard Project in
March 2006 after volunteering in St. Bernard after the storm. During
that time, they met many hardworking residents who were determined
to move back home but lacked the financial resources to rebuild
their homes. They returned to St. Bernard Parish in June 2006 and
began working on their first client’s home in August 2006. Since
that time they have evolved into a thriving rebuilding organization
that has helped over 120 families move back into their
homes. |
