NBC29Rebuilding New Orleans: 60 Local Volunteers Journey to the Big Easy (Part 3)

Rebuilding New Orleans: 60 Local Volunteers Journey to the Big Easy (Part 3)

Reported by Dana Hackett
November 22, 2006 

For the past two days, we've been bringing you stories from New Orleans--documenting the work that a group of volunteers from Charlottesville is doing in part of the city. The group will be there all week volunteering with Habitat for Humanity to build homes in the Musicians' Village.

So what is the Musicians' Village? Why was it started? And what makes it so special?

NBC29's Dana Hackett is in New Orleans with the answers. 

We're here on the steps of one of the new homes Habitat has built in the Musicians' Village. The village is one of the first large scale rebuilding projects in New Orleans. It was started by Harry Connick, Jr. and Branford Marsalis in an effort to keep musicians at home in New Orleans, where they belong.  

Music is the soul of New Orleans. But after Hurricane Katrina hit, some of that soul began to flee as musicans were forced to flee a city they helped shape and mold. That dispersion is why the Musicians' Village was formed in the city's Upper Ninth Ward.

Plans for the project were announced almost a year ago nd construction began in March. "We completed the first three homes on June 1st," said construction manager Ken Francois. 

Work has picked up since then. Currently, five families are living in houses that are finished. In total, 31 homes stand close to completion.

"We thought we could do a few more houses this summer. But we didn't get the larger numbers that we were anticipating of volunteers," stated Francois. 

But the number of volunteers has increased. Officials say about 10,000 volunteers have contributed to the project over the past six months. One of those people is Catherine Neale.

"I came down here in January with a group from UVA and it was a great experience," said Neale. 

That experience went from temporary to more permanent. After graduating from UVA, Neale gave up a job offer in New York to move to New Orleans and work with Habitat for Humanity.

"I thought, the city really needs our help. And I thought, there's no better time in my life to come down and serve New Orleans and the people of New Orleans," explained Neale.

While it's called The Musicians' Village, these homes are not solely for musicans. As far as who is chosen to move into the homes, it depends on factors like income level, family size and job security.

"We don't give away homes. They actually pay for their houses, but it's in interest free mortgages. So you can afford a house for cheaper than a one-bedroom apartment is down here right now," said Neale. "I know that we do have a really long waiting list, and that really encourages us on the construction team to work even hard and to work even faster."

Working faster to complete the mission of Habitat. The current vision is to complete 50 homes by Christmas and then next year Habitat has additional plans.

"The vision says that next year we're going to do 250 houses instead of 50. And the year after next we're going to do 500 houses. So we're trying to meet the need," shared Francois. 

Over the next four years, they hope to complete 1500 homes. But leaders say it's going to take more hands, more experience and more commitment.

"If you're an experienced contractor that knows how to frame, roof, side, finish the interiors in particular--we could use your help," said Francois. 

Neale also encourages others to help out: "Just take that time out of your life, whether it's a weekend or a year. I promise you it will be well worth it."

As far as what it costs to build one of these homes, one home can cost  between $65,000 and $71,000. 

The houses are all painted in bright colors. Officials say each family is allowed to pick the color of their home.

Tune in again Thursday night to NBC29 News for another installment in the series "Rebuilding New Orleans." Dana will introduce us to the very first family to ever move into the Musicians' Village. Their story airs Thursday at 6 p.m.