lowernine.org

Dedicated to the long-term recovery and revitalization of New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward - the community that care forgot - lowernine.org realizes its mission by rebuilding Lower 9th Ward legacy (pre-Katrina) residents' homes, mitigating blight, providing equitable food access to individuals and families, and advocating for long-term disaster recovery for marginalized, vulnerable communities.

After Hurricane Katrina and the ensuing levee breaches of 2005, which rendered 100% of Lower 9th Ward homes uninhabitable, lowernine.org was founded in 2007, and for two decades has been providing affordable housing in this neighborhood. Rebuilding here has lagged far behind other parts of New Orleans due to deep-seated inequalities, institutional neglect, and ongoing barriers to return.

Over 98% Black before Katrina, the Lower 9th Ward retained one of the highest rates of Black homeownership in the country. Many residents lived in homes passed down for generations. Our mission is to help families return to safe, secure, and affordable housing in the place they call home.

To date, lowernine.org has fully rebuild 98 homes, and has completed structural repairs on over 400 more properties, bringing more families home to the community than any other organization. During COVID-19, lowernine.org initiated a food security program, through which nearly one million pounds of food have been distributed to this community.