Established in 2006, one year after the Federal Flood that followed Hurricane Katrina, the Lower 9th Ward Homeownership Association (L9WHA) serves as a resident-run, not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing outreach, advocacy and case management expertise to residents of New Orleans’ historic Lower 9th Ward community. The organization works to meet its mission by identifying pre-
Katrina residents who want to return home but who have not been unable to due to enduring bureaucratic and rebuilding obstacles. The L9WHA provides case management assistance securing Road Home payments for residents who experienced contractor fraud, forced mortgage payoff or theft, who spent their Road Home award on rent, or who were underpaid by Road Home in the first place. While we believe all residents have the right to return home, we also believe that helping residents return isn't enough. Residents have a right to return to a healthy community that reflects their rebuilding priorities. We believe rebuilding as a healthy, resilient and resident-driven community - with access to affordable homeownership, good schools, healthcare, healthy foods, living wage jobs and environmental protection - is also a right. This is why the L9WHA has been an outspoken advocate and leader in the community for more than a decade. We have served on the Lower 9th Ward School Advisory Group to bring schools back to the community. We have partnered with the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and the Lower 9th Ward Health Consortium to address minority health disparities. And we are a founding and active member of the Lower 9th Ward Stakeholders Coalition to champion economic development and advocate for resident priorities to be included in the post-Katrina rebuilding of our community.
