Fourteen students, partners, and administrators worked with Habitat for Humanity to build homes in the St. Tammany parish, about 40 miles north of New Orleans. HBSers worked alongside future Habitat homeowners and the construction crew on a wide variety of projects, including installing doorframes inside homes, cutting and putting siding outside of homes, and debris removal. In addition, all 40 Service Immersion participants spent the Saturday of the trip working together on the Habitat site.
The population in St. Tammany parish has doubled since Katrina, since the area was less affected by the hurricane than New Orleans was. Housing is one of most important issues facing both New Orleans and St. Tammany. Habitat has pledged to build 1000 homes in the Gulf Region by mid-2007, a significant increase from pre-Katrina.
Participants included Nathan Barbour (OI), Steph Cheung (OE), Genevieve Daftary, Anthony D’Avella (OA), Kelly Diamond, Elizabeth Head (ND), Arya Heidari, Leila Heidari (OE), Danny Hong (OE), Amy McGowan (NA), Trey McGowan, Sarah O’Brien (NF), Christena Smith (OB), and Eric Tencer (OC).
