BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. – A dream to help 1,000 families get into homes of their own in the wake of Katrina is quickly coming true throughout the hurricane zone.
“I am so excited, so happy,” says teacher Kimberly Martin of Bay St. Louis, whose young family, after losing two loved ones and most of its worldly possessions to the storm, will be one of the first to live the dream in Hancock County.
Along the Gulf Coast, Habitat for Humanity is pouring foundations, raising walls and subdividing land in its massive “Operation Home Delivery” mission, created to respond to the homelessness caused by last year’s hurricanes. Twenty homes have already been built in the Mississippi capital of Jackson for Katrina-displaced families who decided to relocate there.
“We have 16 lots in Waveland and we have 36 in Bay St. Louis,” said Wendy McDonald, the Hancock County honcho for the 30-year-old nonprofit, which describes itself as an "ecumenical Christian housing organization." In addition to those, the group is expecting to close soon on a 22-acre Bay St. Louis parcel that could support up to 100 homes, although not all of them would be Habitat dwellings.
Eight families have been chosen from a flood of 500 applications, six from Bay St. Louis and two from Waveland, said Fee Genin, the local family selection coordinator. Work will be under way soon on those homes and others, Genin said.
Habitat, while firmly supported by financial donations and volunteer workers, does not give homes away. Popularized by former President Jimmy Carter, the program requires recipients to put 200 to 400 hours of "sweat equity" into their own homes or other projects. In Hancock County, they must have decent credit and earn from $1,000 to no more than $4,129 a month, depending on family size, because they’ll need to make payments on an interest-free mortgage. Deed restrictions limit their ability to resell the homes at a profit for a number of years.
Houses are modest
The houses are modest, most of them a little over 1,000 square feet with three bedrooms and a single bath. The average mortgage will be about $50,000.
Martin and Brandon Farve and their year-old son, Kameron, were routed from a tidy rental cottage in a peaceful Bay St. Louis neighborhood by Katrina, just three weeks after moving in.
“We basically lost pretty much everything,” says Martin, 24, who teaches first grade at Gaston Point Elementary in Gulfport. She, Farve and Kameron had relocated from Gulfport to Bay St. Louis to be closer to her mother, aunt and other family members. The toughest loss: One of Farve’s aunts and a cousin died in a house not far from the beach in Bay St. Louis.
Encouraged to fill out the Habitat application by her aunt Clementine Williams, herself a well-known retired schoolteacher and principal, Martin soon found her family approved for a home on a lot next to Williams’ house on Easterbrook Street. The family has deep and historic roots in Bay St. Louis with young Kameron a member of the sixth generation to call the town home. Williams’ father and Martin’s grandfather, Douglas J. Williams, remains the only black man ever to have served as a police chief in Hancock County, holding the post in Bay St. Louis from 1975-85, according to Williams.
Martin said she never expected to see her hometown so devastated by a hurricane. But she is even more surprised to find herself on the threshold of home-ownership. “I was just starting out,” she said. “I didn’t have any plans to buy or build a house. I was happy just renting.”
Twirling Kameron above the grass-covered lot beneath a backdrop of scrub pines where their new house will rise, Martin said, “I can’t wait to start building. I hope we have enough room so we can put a little swing set back here.”
Amazing colors of spring
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A HOUSE IS JUST A HOUSE...LOVE MAKES IT A HOME...KEEP YOUR HOME FULL OF LOVE AND THEN, THINGS HAVE A WAY OF WORKING OUT.
TRISH METIVIER, NEW HAMPSHIRE (Sent May 3, 2006 4:37:39 PM)
It is truly a blessing for you and your family to receive a new home. I pray that all is well with you, continue to look to the hills, for we know our help comes from the Lord. Take care of that little man, I'm sure he'll be very happy as well as yourself.
Pamela Lester, Hernando, MS (Sent May 3, 2006 4:49:28 PM)
To Sam in Portland, OR. There have been 'people' living in Bay St. Louis for over 500 years... 300 of those year by Europeans. These people live through hurricanes like Californians live through earthquakes and the midwest lives through tornados...and the north survives snow storms and don't forget New England's rivers. Hurricanes are just flashier...the waiting, reporters standing on the beach getting pelted. Most hurricanes are really not this all encompasing, but are usually more localized...and many precautions are taken regardless of what you see reported in the media.
The water pushed up by Katrina (on top of an already high tide...bad timing) is like a tsunami wave (y'all have the possibility of those?) hitting a 100+ mile length of coastal Oregon and pushing in several miles in places! Is this something you could foresee happening? Probably not...By the way...is there a river near you? Has it ever flooded?
Jessica, Sugarland, TX (Sent May 3, 2006 6:02:35 PM)
To Sam from Portland - the wages here were depressed before the hurricane, and are just now becoming inline with the rest of the country. I know many people who won't go back to work at the casinos because they have MUCH better jobs.
To Cassie from Washington - There are no houses, honey, so why give them the money? They need to build houses, and the best way to have someone appreciate what they have is to; A) go thru a hurricane, and B)put some sweat equity into a home. And yes, sometimes the biggest beneficiaries are the people who build the houses. They have come to the Gulf Coast and many walk away in total amazement at the wonderful people here, the beautiful Gulf Coast, and the fragrant air this time of year.
I used to live in Pass Christian, but right now I'm in Georgia. My dream is to go back home. We are fortunate that our insurance company paid us for our home. Too many others have insurance companies who arn't paying, or only pay pennies on the value of the home. Still others got flooded out, and have no insurance because they technically didn't reside in flood zones.
Keep up the good work Habitat! You are making a difference in Mississippi!
Susan Inman Davis, Pass Christian, MS, & Newnan, GA (Sent May 3, 2006 9:45:01 PM)
After seeing all the damage from Katrina, I don't think there are enough carpenters in the country to get the job done. In these two towns, EVERYTHING has to be built. It's just gone. The volunteers and church groups who have come, as well as paid workers, are so very needed. Thank you all so much.
Jane, Southern Mississippi (Sent May 4, 2006 12:16:52 AM)
What a wonderful blessing...Congratulations to you and your family.......May God continue to bless you and take care of that beautiful little boy.
rachel, denver colorado (Sent May 4, 2006 4:09:06 PM)
Habitat for Humanity seems to have the key to helping. Oprah also is building homes in Houston for hurricane survivors. Why can't the government take the bull by the horns and build 100s of homes for these deserving people?
elle, Mesa, AZ (Sent May 5, 2006 11:34:59 AM)
Good luck to you and Kameron. I'm so happy for both of you in a blessing moment in your lives. God is always watching over us, taking care of us at all times. He is great. May you have many many years living in your new home and plenty of good memories there.
shirley Cameron, Holliswood, New York (Sent May 5, 2006 12:16:37 PM)
Could someone tell me how I can get on a volunteer team to work? I am a school teacher and would like to give some time this summer. I am a hard worker and have worked in Ozark Mission Project. I am having a hard time finding a team to join.
Brenda Matthews, Hot Springs, Arkansas (Sent May 7, 2006 6:29:48 PM)
it's been a few days, i hope ground is being broke...Kimberly...take care and Godspeed
andy,booneville ms. (Sent May 7, 2006 10:47:30 PM)
Brenda: Go to www.baystlouis.us and hit the volunteer tab at the bottom of the screen. You'll find many of the groups working in town. Don't know when it was last updated. Maybe those reading may know of others that have come into the area.
Laurie, CO (Sent May 10, 2006 12:00:22 AM)
To Brenda Matthews, Hot Springs Arkansas; There is a volunteer organization in Long Beach Mississippi that is run by the Episcopal/Lutheran diocese in Mississippi called Camp Coast Care. My husband and I were there in January for a week. It is the most wonderful and sad thing you will ever do. Their mission right now is to help folks gut and rebuild their homes. You can go to the website and check it out. It is www.campcoastcare.com. You do not have to be Episopalian or Lutheran to go there. They just want volunteers who want to help. Good luck and God Bless you and everyone on the coast.
Lorri Lance, Huntsville Alabama (Sent May 10, 2006 10:43:12 AM)
Lorri,
We have also worked at Camp Coast Care in Long Beach. What an incredible job they are doing there!!! A friend from New York has actually given up his apartment and job, placed his possessions in storage, and is working at Camp Coast Care "for the duration". Our daughter worked there for 7 weeks, sleeping in a tent and working in the food/clothing distribution tent. Several folks from our church have gone down to work there also, including my husband and myself. As you say, it was the most wonderful and sad thing we will ever do. Our lives have been changed in immeasurable ways by the experience we had. We firmly believe that the people of the Gulf Coast of Mississippi are incredible. WE were the ones who were blessed by the opportunity to work there. While we were there, people from all faiths were working together - Baptists, Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans etc. etc. etc. No one cared what church we were from. Everyone cared that we were all there to work and pray together. Thank YOU, Mississippi, for blessing us so richly! You are amazing people. You will survive. We are here for you.
Cher (Sent May 13, 2006 9:41:48 PM)
Kimberly is my daughter. My husband & I are so grateful to Habitat for Humanity. We lost our home and everything in it we are trying to rebuild as I type. It is hard to get any contractors now espically (reasonable) contractors. My home maybe 1/3 complete now. Thank God for the volunteers and all the Faith based organizations. I have two other sisters who have majors damage also. I'd like to thanks all the people who took time to write such wonderful messages to Kimberly, Kameron & Brandon. May God bless all of you. Keep all the Gulf Coast residents in your prayers. You don't know how much it helps us. I'm a VA nurse and have been there 29 years. My job in Gulfport was closed in August 2005 due to Katrina now we have been moved to the Biloxi VA. I travel 84 miles round trip to get there. It isn't good with these gas prices but I am grateful I have my job. So may others have no job. Kimberly is also traveling a longer route. All due to no bridges. I know how grateful she is to have her job. Again thank you and God bless you all.
Pamela Williams-Martin (Sent May 15, 2006 10:49:34 AM)
bless you Pamela Williams....and All of our Mississippi friends!....working people are the bakebone of our society!....you Go girl!!!
andy,ms (Sent May 15, 2006 6:49:43 PM)
To Cher and all those from around this country who have been volunteers in the Gulf Coast region......I, too went to Bay St. Louis to help in the cleanup and rebuilding. Like Cher, I came away with so much more than I brought. The people of Miss. get to your heart and soul. The pull to go back is great. You make "connections" when you go there. You meet people who have had their lives torn apart. You forget your own troubles and realize some of them don't matter too much. So, this summer, if you have any time, even a few days, get a group together, or go yourself, and see what it is all about. God Bless all of those who are rebuilding their lives. YOU are NOT forgotten.
peggy, naples. fla. (Sent May 17, 2006 8:21:19 AM)
after 29 years of service at a VA hospital...I .think it's us who should say thank you Pamela Williams- Martin for taking care of our Vets. after that long I think your a Veteran Too
andy,ms (Sent May 18, 2006 9:42:25 AM)
Yes, I seen alot of folks from Miss. trying to rebuild, and put their lives back to norm. The thing I could not understand was the help to those that were not in harms way or in need, being helped first. Cleaning up their ten acre lots, when there was people that didn't even have a home. The thing I was most impressed with was the volunteers. God bless each and every one of you. Thats what Americas about, not the contractors robbing the ones in need.
Brent Hanson, Boise, Idaho (Sent Jun 1, 2006 9:39:37 AM)
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