In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, representatives from local faith-based organizations came together to see how they might use their joint talents, experience and resources to help address the critical need for affordable and supportive housing in southern Louisiana.
The result of this collaboration was the formation of Providence Community Housing, a new, independent 501(c)(3).
Enterprise Community Partners, the nationally respected housing and community development pioneer, has signed an MOU partnership agreement with Providence.
Click here for more information about our exciting new collaboration.
Providence's mission is to foster healthy, diverse and vibrant communities by developing, operating and advocating for affordable, mixed-income housing, supportive services and employment opportunities for individuals, families, seniors and people with special needs.
Our 5-year goal is to bring home 20,000 victims of Katrina by rebuilding and/or developing 7,000 units of housing - both single-family homes and apartments:
- Re-establish 1,500 affordable apartments for seniors
- Repair and rebuild 1,200 homes for the most vulnerable
- Develop 500 units of supportive housing for special needs populations
- Develop 2,600 mixed-income apartments
- Develop 1,200 affordable homes
Providence Community Housing
1050 S. Jeff Davis Pkwy
Suite 301
New Orleans, LA 70125
(504) 821-7222
PCHinfo@providencech.org
Click the icon to the left to access our Lafitte brochure
What have we done? Click here for a summary of our plans & progress!
Where are we working? Click here for a map of our current projects!
How can I apply to live in a Providence home or apartment? Click here for information & photos on all of our properties.
12/7/07 - Providence breaks ground at Annunciation Inn! The project, located in the St. Roch Neighborhood, will bring back 106 affordable apartments for senior citizens.
Click here for a Times Picayune article about the groundbreaking.
Providence has sponsored the formation of the Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance, a coalition of non-profit housing builders and CDCs.
For a list of GNOHA member orgnanizations, click here.
Providence & Enterprise have broken ground on a number of projects throughout the city. Here are some photos from just a few of our groundbreaking ceremonies held to date:
Photos from Groundbreaking Cermonies
12/20/07 - By a unanimous 7-0 decision, the City Council has approved the redevelopment of 4 public housing complexes in New Orleans.
Providence & Enterprise are excited about this opportunity to begin rebuilding the community for returning Lafitte & Tremé residents.
For more information about the historic vote, click here.
12/25/07 - The New York Times has endorsed the Providence-Enterprise Lafitte redevelopment plan!
For a link to the article, click here.
Providence has spearheaded the formation of the NEWCITY Neighborhood Partnership, over 50 organizations focused on community, economic, and housing development in Tremé/Lafitte and Tulane/Gravier.
For more information on the NEWCITY initiative, click here.
1/9/08 - Providence and Enterprise begin construction on 474 affordable homes for low-income seniors and families in New Orleans & Marrero!
The total investment in these 4 projects totals $59 million. For more information, click here.
3/25/08 - Mayor C. Ray Nagin has signed the demolition permit for Lafitte, clearing the way for redevelopment to begin onsite.
94 units will be repaired for temporary residency.
5/23/08 - Providence & Enterprise begin construction on 51 affordable apartments for seniors in New Orleans East!
For more information, click here. For a Times Picayune article on the groundbreaking, click here.
4/20/08 - The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has released a report detailing its response to the Katrina crisis.
The work of Providence and our partner Enterprise (a RWJF grant recipient) is profiled here.
8/22/08 - Providence & Enterprise begin construction on 10 offsite homes for the Lafitte Redevelopment!
The buildings will be rehabilitated into beautiful 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom single-family homes. Click here for more information.
For Lafitte designs & site plans, click here.
For more in-depth information about the project, including an archive of our communications with residents, click here.
11/6/08 - Providence teams with The Salvation Army to "Welcome Home" 43 seniors at St. Ann Apartments with brand new furniture!
Click here for more information about our exciting partnership with The Salvation Army to provide $1.2 million in furnishings to hundreds of new and returning senior residents.
4/6/09 - The NYU Wagner School of Public Service published an article profiling the work of Providence staff members Kathleen Mullin (MUP '05), Rosalind Ross (MUP '05), and Olivia Stinson (MUP '06). Click here to read it!
7th Ward-Treme Kids/Resource Fair
On May 15, 2010 from 11am-3pm, the Phoenix of New Orleans partnered with Common Ground Health Clinic, REACH NOLA, and Tulane Community Health Center to host the 2nd annual 7th Ward-Treme Kids/Resource Fair at the Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center. Over 40 non-profit and community organizations participated.
Fair activities included arts and crafts with Ya/Ya; spice-making with the Edible Schoolyards; a drum circle led by Project Rising Sun; face painting, tie-dying, and bird house building with City Year; sports with Playworks NOLA; and, of course, plenty of great food! The day also featured performances from the NOCCA Dance Department, Kai Knight's Silhouette Dance Ensemble, Dee 1, the Baby Boyz Brass Band, and a gospel puppet show by the Kingdom Kidz Youth Ministry. Spanish-English interpreters were available throughout the day for our Spanish-speaking families. The fair was a wonderful opportunity to bring the whole community together for some summer fun!
5/15/09 - Providence & Enterprise open 100 green, affordable apartments on the westbank!
Click here for more information.
Click here for a Times Picayune editorial endorsing the project.
8/27/09 - Providence & Enterprise break ground on the Lafitte Redevelopment!
Click here for more information.
Click here for a Times Picayune article on the event.
6/8/10 - Lafitte corridor purchased by the City for the Lafitte Greenway project. Click here for a Times Picayune article about the announcement.
Frames taking shape at Lafitte!
After a joyous groundbreaking ceremony last August, contractors have been hard at work preparing the site for construction. We're excited to report that frames are now taking shape! Click here for more photos.
This first phase of our onsite development plan includes 214 affordable rental apartments for families and another 100 for low-income seniors, the majority of which will be completed by March 2011.
Video featuring the Edmundite Homes
Our largest project is a joint effort with Enterprise to plan and develop a new community on and around the site of the former Lafitte public housing development, in the historic Tremé/Lafitte neighborhood of New Orleans.
When complete, the project will feature 1500 homes & apartments: a one-for-one replacement of all 900 subsidized rentals and the development of an additional 600 homes for sale to working families and first-time homeowners. All 865 residents/families will be welcomed back.
8/19/10 - As we approach the
5-year anniversary of Katrina, Providence is so thankful for the continued support & partnership of our friends at Enterprise.
Read more about our collaboration in their 2009 Annual Report here.
