Wintersession: Habitat for Humanity New Orleans

New Orleans Habitat for Humanity

Wintersession Alternative Break 2014
January 18th-24th, 2014
New Orleans, LA

Since its inception in 1983, the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH) has been working in partnership with hard working, low-income families in New Orleans to build and finance new, safe, affordable homes. The program makes homeownership possible for families who are unable to qualify for traditional home loans but have a stable job, good or no credit, and the willingness to contribute 350 hours of sweat equity to the building of Habitat homes.

New Orleans continues to rebuild housing that was destroyed by the devastating flooding of Hurricane Katrina. NOAHH has become a beacon of hope in this rebuilding process by recruiting and deploying tens of thousands of volunteers to construct new homes in damaged, blighted neighborhoods. With the support of our volunteers, donors, and partners across the country and even the world, NOAHH’s homebuilding capacity has increased annually since 2005.

We will be continuing a Wellesley service tradition throughout this Alternative Break.  The tradition began as a direct response to Hurricane Katrina and even though this devastating event happened several years ago, the reconstruction effort has been aided by Wellesley students each year.  The group will travel to New Orleans to work on residential reconstruction.  Experience is not necessary to volunteer on this trip because the NOAHH staff and AmeriCorps members will provide training and instruction. NOAHH partner families often work alongside many volunteers while they are earning sweat equity, so it’s a great way to meet future Habitat homeowners.