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| Jim teaching volunteers about the finer points of house gutting.
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SAFER takes the direct approach to
rebuilding the city of New Orleans, offering free labor to people who would
otherwise be unable to afford the cost of repairing their homes. We communicate
directly with our families about their needs and their hopes for their rebuilt
homes, and with community leaders and organizations about their plans for
revitalizing their neighborhood. We realize that rebuilding can be a huge
challenge, especially for homeowners who have few funds or also have the
responsibility of a job and caring for a family. SAFER's approach to rebuilding
is to try to make the return home as simple as possible by helping the family in
every aspect of rebuilding: applying for loans, getting building permits, and
finding skilled labor to repair plumbing, electrical work, and roofing, among
other tasks. Once the family is home, we can provide further assistance, such as
finding a good daycare or school and getting money donated for groceries,
furniture, and/or appliances.
SAFER volunteers learn to hang drywall,
install insulation, sand, texture and paint, and install siding. Their work can
save a New Orleans family thousands in labor costs, and usually takes only
several months to complete. SAFER volunteers show that a small, determined group
can offer real help to a community without the high cost, delays, and confusion
that can accompany larger, less community-based recovery projects.
SAFER focuses the skills, energy, and
spare time of student volunteers on the efforts to rebuild New Orleans. It
allows both local students and visitors from around the United States to take
part in projects with concrete results. To date, over 900 SAFER volunteers have
gutted 85 homes and rebuilt 12 more. In rebuilding a hurricane-damaged house,
the volunteers not only have the chance to help a family, but to develop a
relationship with them. SAFER wants to bring fellow New Orleanians home, to help
our neighbors rather than provide impersonal charity. We are more bbq than
contract, more birthday party than board meeting. We are low-key but hands on,
students but hard workers, fun but serious about rebuilding our community.
Join
SAFER and be a part of rebuilding New Orleans.
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SAFER
310 South Broad Street,
New Orleans, Louisiana, 70119
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