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November 8, 2006
Tri-Parish Times
Essence Waller has a new last name, a new family, new washer and dryer, renewed goals and dreams; a fresh start to life thanks to a new address.
Essence and Faron Bridges, newlyweds and parents of two n Treasure, 3, and Tyree, 10 months old — are one of 50 families building a new life in Bayou Blue Subdivision, a group of homes built by Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity (BAHFH).
“We have had people from all over, from New Orleans to others affected by the storms,” said Lynette Grazier, resource development director of Public Relations for BAHFH. “Many people from all walks of life come to relocate here in Lafourche and Terrebonne. We have a lot of different folks coming in just looking for a fresh start.”
The second phase of BAHFH’s Operation Home Delivery broke ground last month in Galliano. Twenty-six more homes are being built there.
All of the properties are being constructed for families who lost their homes in hurricanes Katrina or Rita.
Construction in Galliano on the first 13 to 14 homes is under way.
“We have had people from all over, from New Orleans to others affected from the storms,” said Lynette Grazier, resource development director of Public Relations for BAHFH. “Many people from all walks of life come to relocate here in Lafourche and Terrebonne. We have a lot of different folks coming in just looking for a fresh start.”
In Bridges’ case, the journey is leading back home.
A resident of New Orleans before Katrina, Waller Bridges is a native of Lafourche Parish. She and her husband evacuated before the storm hit, and eventually relocated to a FEMA-appropriated apartment in Houston. When violence erupted in the Houston community, the Bridges packed and left. Still without a place to call their own, the family posted camp with relatives in Thibodaux.
“We were on a housing waiting list until we received the call [from Habitat],” said Waller Bridges. “We were living with my grandmother, and her house is shifting and cracking. There were four of us sleeping in one bed and our suitcases and clothes took over the room.”
She learned about the BAHFH opportunity through her church and applied. In mid-June, she found out that her family would soon have a new home.
The Bridges family became permanent residents of Terrebonne Parish in September. Finally moved in and married, the couple is starting to plan for the future. Waller Bridges is looking to get Treasure into the Terrebonne Head Start Program, is taking care of 10-month old Tyree and making plans to go back to school. Her husband is self-employed, working multiple odd jobs in Terrebonne Parish.
BAHFH partners up with community residents and business leaders to provide low-cost homes to encourage hurricane victims to stay in or relocate back to Louisiana. Homes are funded through BAHFH grants as well as private donations.
“By providing homes with a low mortgage with no interest rates, we give families a ‘hand up’ rather than a ‘hand out’,” said Grazier.
Families are chosen based on need through an application process, she said. If chosen, recipients make a down payment on their home and are required to complete a minimum of 350 hours of ‘sweat equity’ n helping with construction of their own home or others in the neighborhood, Grazier said.
The average cost of a Bayou Blue Habitat home is $55,000, which includes the property. Grazier said it will take families 25 to 30 years to repay.
For the Bridges, the price is well worth it.
“Building was actually fun,” Waller Bridges said. “I found some muscles that I never knew I had. I knew nothing about building houses, but I learned a lot and I was able to meet my neighbors and make a connection.”
With the new skill set, the mother of two has the confidence and knowledge to fix items throughout the house. She was able to secure a door, uneven on its hinges, before the neighborhood maintenance technician could take a look at it.
New friends and neighbors attended the Bridges’ wedding over the weekend. The Bridges had planned to marry next summer but in celebration of their new life in Bayou Blue, pushed the date forward.
“We are very happy here and love our new home,” said Waller Bridges. “I love that it is my home.”
BAHFH has received over 350 applications in 2006 for the Operation Home Delivery program n specifically geared toward helping hurricane victims n and other low-income families in need. Applications are still being accepted for the Galliano subdivision; 30 applications are under review for this project.
Numerous national corporations helped support the Bayou Blue neighborhood including Burlington Resources, Mary Kay, Inc., and Apache Corp. Additionally, local sponsors like Rotary Club of Houma and the Ellendale Country Club have lent support to the project, Grazier said.
Rocker Jon Bon Jovi donated $1 million, causing a publicity stir along the bayou. Oprah Winfrey and the Angel Foundation matched the rock star’s donation and sent camera crews to capture the process earlier this month.
Chevron Corp. has already confirmed sponsorship for the Galliano project, and the Lafourche Parish Council has already pledged hours to help build homes, Grazier said.
