Hope’s Past
Just 2 days after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, in response to dire and immediate need to coordinate and support relief and recovery efforts in the devastated community of East Biloxi, William (‘Bill’) F. Stallworth, Biloxi Councilman for Ward 2 and East Biloxi resident, founded what became the East Biloxi Relief and Coordination Agency (later, the East Biloxi Coordination, Relief, and Redevelopment Agency) with the goals of sustaining hope, providing relief and comfort through synchronized action and helping the community regain control over its future. It took six weeks for official assistance to arrive in East Biloxi. In those earliest days Bill Stallworth partnered with local churches and, with aid from Oxfam and NAACP, provided immediate food, shelter and basic medical care to the thousands of families whose homes were destroyed by the hurricane.
Hope eventually evolved into a full-service resource center for residents—a place where residents come to share their aspirations and concerns regarding the rebuilding effort, to participate in planning for both the immediate recovery and long-term prosperity of their community, and create a shared vision for the future of their community. In this vein, Hope engaged in a large-scale community survey, published as the East Biloxi Community Plan–a participatory planning process of East Biloxi residents balancing redevelopment hopes with the concerns and priorities of the communities that were there before the hurricanes.
Hope’s Present
Hope has become the ‘hub’ around which East Biloxi’s recovery, rebuilding and redevelopment activity has been centered. Hope continues to provide a point of entry for residents to access critical services; a common space in which relief and recovery entities can meet, exchange information, receive consultation, organize weekly meetings with the relief and recovery organizations working in the area for planning and coordination of both short and long-term recovery efforts. In addition to ongoing technical and logistical support provided to both residents and partner organization staff, the facilitation of donated supplies and materials, access to Hope’s resources for relief and recovery partner staff include: computers, fax, copier, small and large conference spaces and a conference phone.
The neighborhood of East Biloxi is working to turn a corner in its redevelopment efforts. Debris has been removed, the gutting of homes is complete, critical infrastructure is returning, and residents have made clear their determination to return and rebuild. Significant challenges remain, however, for this community of nearly 13,000 residents who were among the city’s poorest before the storm. Katrina destroyed or rendered uninhabitable nearly 80% of East Biloxi’s housing stock, yet homeowners still await state disbursements and insurance proceeds, a frustrating situation exacerbated by land speculation and the high cost of rebuilding. Despite this, over 650 homes have been rehabilitated, with roughly 200 salvageable homes remaining; new construction of homes totally destroyed by the storm lags behind, though Hope has rebuilt approximately 35 new homes and has over 70 in the pipeline. Rebuilding efforts thus far can largely be attributed to local and national civic and faith-based groups, which have mobilized their constituents, provided basic needs and services, led planning processes, and begun to rebuild homes and communities. With continued and additional support for financing mechanisms and organizational capacity building, this deeply rooted community has the opportunity for widespread redevelopment.
Hope’s Future
As Hope makes the transition into a comprehensive community development organization, it now offers a range of services and programs towards the goal of implementing the community’s vision
for rebuilding its neighborhood. First, Hope is delivering case management services to residents for rebuilding their homes, including, funding, code compliance, insurance, and FEMA elevation technical assistance. Legal services are by referral to community legal partners, and the Gulf Coast Community Design Studio provides architectural services in-house. Hope also provides referrals for physical and mental health needs. Second, Hope continues to serve as an information clearinghouse and resource center for residents. Third, Hope supports economic development through employment assessment and referrals.
