Getting back into a house has been one of the biggest obstacles for many Gulf Coast residents after Hurricane Katrina and (in New Orleans) the failure of the levees. There has been appallingly little government support for rebuilding, especially for lower-income families. But for many of those families who have surmounted this obstacle, furnishing the house and making it a home has proven to be financially difficult, if not impossible.

In response to this, UUSC program partner All Congregations Together (ACT) began working with churches, families, and volunteers to launch “Project Resurrection,” with the ultimate goal of creating houses that are livable and furnished, have soul, and become homes.

The Martinez and Brown families are two of the 29 families whose homes were repaired, painted, and furnished through Project Resurrection. Both families live in the Lower Ninth Ward, one of the hardest-hit communities in New Orleans.

Mrs. Martinez is a life-long resident of the city, and lives next door to her brother-in-law. She is a longtime member of St. David’s Catholic Church and a mother of two sons who passed away prior to Hurricane Katrina. For years, Mrs. Martinez worked at Parkview Cleaners on St. Claude Avenue. But after the levees failed, Parkview Cleaners was forced to shut its doors. Getting back home has been a struggle; Mrs. Martinez had to evacuate to unfamiliar cities, help support her family, and figure out how to make a return to New Orleans economically possible. Project Resurrection has helped Mrs. Martinez by providing furniture for her dining room. Volunteers, many from Main Line Unitarian Universalist Church in Devon, Pa., helped move the furniture into Mrs. Martinez’s home.

Project Resurrection also reached out to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, whose family of four has resided in the Lower Ninth Ward for 14 years. Mrs. Brown is a nurse assistant. Her husband is a self-employed carpenter, but is currently unable to work because of an injury. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the levees, the Brown family has exhausted nearly all of their financial resources trying to return and rebuild. The Browns have also struggled with finding adequate health care, supporting their children, and keeping depression at bay. Mrs. Brown recently returned to school to become a registered nurse and increase the family’s income. Even as they strive to help themselves, Mr. and Mrs. Brown are grateful for the solidarity and support from Project Resurrection. Volunteers recently helped the family repair, paint, and furnish their living room, bedroom, dining room, and kitchen.

If a house is to be a home, it needs more than walls, a roof, and a floor. With the help of community members and other volunteers, the houses of the Martinez and Brown families are becoming true homes.