Progress on Fred Robinson's house

Fred Robinson is a man in his 70s who has lived his whole life in the Lower Ninth ward. Before Hurricane Katrina, he knew all his neighbors, and his son and family lived 2 doors down the block. The neighbor across the street told me that Freddie was a good man, always there for his family. She volunteered, "Not all black men are there for their families, but Freddie was always there for his." When Fred's house was finally starting to be rebuilt from the ground up, they hired a contractor who was a neighbor of theirs to do the work. The raised foundation was laid, and then....nothing. This man whom they trusted, made off with $20,000 of Fred's money that was to have been put toward the construction.

Unfortunately this is a story that would be repeated several times over in the Lower Ninth Ward. Contractors stealing from the people who had already lost everything. Insurance companies sending checks to homeowners for $18,000 for a house that was worth well over $100,000. Ironically if you didn't have homeowners insurance, FEMA gave those people a check for $150,000. One homeowner couldn't collect a claim for his house because it floated away and crashed into another house. The insurance company said it did not cover collision!

The non profit lowernine.org comes in to help people like Fred, providing skilled and volunteer labor to help get people back in their homes. Although the weather has hampered us somewhat, we've made a lot of progress, especially in the last few days. Here are some pictures to show you the progress.

                                               Wrapped tyvec around the whole house early last week.

                                         No more ladder to go up and down. Real steps!

Started work on the deck last Thursday

                

With the exception of one board, the deck was completed Friday. At left is Darren my team leader. He has also lived in the Lower Ninth ward his whole life.

I am the go to girl when it comes to cutting deck boards, 2X4s and roof joists.This week the joists started to go up. The rain cut us a bit short today but progress will continue! I have 4 more days here so hopefully ill have more pictures by the end of the week.