Habitat for Humanity Failings?

There is a Page 1 story (registration required) in todays NY Times about Habitat for Humanity's struggles in New Orleans. The gist of the story is that Habitat is ill-equipped to handle a job like cleaning up after Katrina because their mission is small-thinking (build a few houses at a time) and New Orleans needs big thinking right now. My favorite quote is:

Its (Habitat's) mission often seems as much about providing spiritual fulfillment to its volunteers as it is about improving the lives of homeowners.

(Remind you of anyone?)

Now I think this is too harsh, but perhaps only slightly so. Habitat is extremely focused on improving the lives of the people in New Orleans. And their efforts are rejuvenating the Upper Ninth Ward (and other areas). But the amount of effort needed is truly daunting and the demands of building and rebuilding 200,000 or so damaged homes is bigger than Habitat can achieve. Still, they should not be the only answer -- just part of it.

One issue Habitat's has is its reliance on "Fly By" volunteers -- people who come in for a day or two at most. A typical day at Habitat is 30 minutes organizing at the main site, 20 minutes organizing at your specific house site, an hour training new people on what you are working on that day, finally four hours of work (split by lunch) and 30 minutes "rolling up". So each day is a half day in reality.

Now, when people like myself come down for several weeks, that process is much improved. We can skip the initial hour of training and free the house leaders to do more. But there is always a new set of people each day and it takes so much time to indoctrinate them.

Perhaps a better solution is to have significant number houses on which longer-term volunteers can focus (and move quickly) -- and a smaller number of "Fly By" houses for the one day people. Of course, to make that work, Habitat needs a large set of longer-term volunteers. So, when I go back, I am looking for people to take with me.

Round 1, Final Thoughts

Friday's New York Times had an article (registration required) on flight of young, middle-class professionals away from New Orleans -- suggesting this was the newest threat to the survival of the city. A key point was that employers were also leaving the city and that would increase the "brain drain". In fact, New Orleans had been undergoing this exodus for years before Katrina -- it has just accelerated since the storm.

But on Saturday, several letter-to-the-editor appeared, arguing the point that while some people were leaving, more were coming in or combing back. Many were people who wanted to help rebuild the city. I think the great people I worked with at Habitat are just those type of people. And I bet some of them stay in New Orleans and make it their home.

With a few days back now to reflect on what I saw in New Orleans, I think the city will come back very strong. The culture remains strong as ever. Great food, great jazz, the seedy fun of Bourbon Street, the East Village feel of Frenchmen's Street, the antebellum grandeur of the homes on St. Charles Street, the racially agnostic crowds to see the Soul Rebels Brass Band at Le Bon Temps on Magazine -- it is all uniquely New Orleans and so worth the experience. I can't see this changing any time soon and with each passing day, I think the city will revive.

It will be hard and there will be setbacks -- but the renaissance will be worth enjoying. And I am going back to help this year (in the Spring) and in the future.

Back Home

I came back home this week, leaving New Orleans to face a new issue -- their first deadly tornado in 40 years. After toiling under 70 degree weather (sometimes on the roof), the ice and cold of New York is quite a shock. But at least I could help shovel the snow/ice for the wife (a major concern I had was we'd get a huge storm and she'd have to shovel herself). I guess I will have to wait until it is warmer before I go back (and I do plan to go back if the wife is okay with it).

In my time in New Orleans, I saw several houses go from having no roof and or walls to having shingled roofs and sided walls. But, I never had the chance to see a house get finished. That, I think, is the piece de resistance for a Habitat worker. Instead, I will have to just show you a picture of the finished houses. These are in heart of Musicians Village and were the first to have people living in them.

I really liked the fact that they adopted the New Orleans style -- with their brightly colored exteriors and large (relative to the house) front porches. They really do represent a beacon to the neighborhood of hope and progress. As soon as a Habitat house is started, repair and construction on surrounding houses begin. In this, the effect of building one house magnifies to the whole city.

Matthew 5:14-16

Several people have emailed me to tell me that the biblical passage to which I referred previously is Matthew 5:14-16. I am thankful for the help but more grateful that people are reading the blog.

Here is the passage (as sent to me):

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

h/t Chris, GeorgeK and others

Habitat Heroes

So many people have said very kind things to me for what I am doing (and for that I am very appreciative). Everyone I have met in New Orleans is appreciative as well. But there are people here who really deserve great praise for their efforts. People like:

• Gail from Minnesota, who took time off from her job to work for a month
• Mark (from Chicago) and Andy (from Boston), who are consultants who quit working for six weeks to come down and help
• Matt, from Oakland, who is here for a month and staying at Camp Hope (with limited heat and water) for the experience
  
• Eric, from Houston, who is waiting for his contractor license in New Orleans and is working every day while he waits.

Their commitment and effort is so impressive and it was great to meet them and work with them.

The most impressive were the Habitat staff that have committed a portion of their life to rebuilding New Orleans. I wanted to laud them for what they are doing.

People like Karyn (pronounced "Car eN"). Karyn obsessively learned every one's name on the first day (when she had 100 people working with her) and remembered mine a week later. She was a long-term volunteer who took a job for Habitat to stay on and help.

Or Rachel. She spells her name incorrectly, but patiently taught me how to use a circular saw and mitre saw. Rachel always looked for me every morning to say hi and thank me for coming out. Here is Rachel, early one morning, smiling as usual...

Then there is Ann (shown here with David, who I have mentioned before). Ann is building her first house for Habitat and having a great time doing it. I helped raise the roof with Ann. Every day, she made us introduce ourselves and get to know one another. She inspired us to work hard and then relax "as hard as we can" so we could work hard some more.

I also loved working with Kaitlyn. She always was doing something crazy and fun. But her heart is as big as her insane side. And she was always finding a way to make volunteers feel good about their effort.

I admit that at first, I was wary of Jerod. For one, he drove this car that looked like it had been in a can crusher (he was rear-ended he claims) and he was always saying something bizarre. But, in reality, he really cares about doing a great job for the people who will be living in the homes. And that car provided us with our roll-up (when we wrap up for the day) concerts so it was all good.

Finally, there was David (pictured twice above). David is a long-suffering Cubs fan who has been working for about 3 months in New Orleans. My introduction to David was when I went onto his roof (we were putting down tar paper and then shingles) and freaked out. But I got over my fears and soldiered on, helping us make good progress. I ended up working with David for an entire week and he recognized my talents as a leader so let me run with the siding efforts. Here is proof that David knows what he is doing (my sided wall!)

It is really an honor to work with these people and certainly a key part of the Habitat experience. They are such heroes in my mind for what they are doing for the people of New Orleans.