Responding to the Call to Restore What is Broken

Hurricanes seem to pick on homes like Jillian’s.

We met Jillian at her wood frame home, sporting an older metal corrugated roof. We found her to be a really sweet yet quiet lady that works 7 days a week with a local healthcare outfit. Behind her smile is a grim reality. She lives under an ever present feeling of concern, seeing that she lives in a dangerous neighborhood. She is trying to save & is slowly trying to fix things up. She recently saved $2,000 that she gave to a contractor who took off with the money. She is trying to save again. That isn’t the first time that we’ve heard of things like this among our clients.

We knew we had our work cut out for us from the moment we walked in. The roof leaked in several rooms. Hurricane Delta compromised the roof’s frame, so that would have to be rebuilt before installing a new metal one. The carport in the rear, which is attached to the house, was in shambles and needed to be rebuilt as well. The floor has some soft spots in the kitchen, and the home’s substructure seemed to be sinking as the rain continued to pour water under the house. Mold. Cabinets. This was going to be a job.

Thanks to a generous offer from our friends at HarvestCall, Jillian had a reason for hope. Since the 1980s, HarvestCall has been involved in large-scale rebuilding projects for disaster survivors. Earlier this year, they committed to providing critical home repairs and renovations to 31 clients affected by recent disasters in Acadiana. Jillian’s was one of them.

Throughout the course of two weeks, Jillian’s storm damage and delayed maintenance were addressed with dignity through a combination of volunteer labor and staff oversight. This included a newly pitched and shingled roof, a full demo and rebuild of the interior, and floors leveled. 

From our time spent with Jillian, her joy and servant’s heart were always evident even amid struggle. Thanks to our friends at HarvestCall, our donors, and committed Rebuilding Together Acadiana volunteers, Jillian’s home is better suited to withstand whatever comes next.

Find out more about one of Catholic Charities of Acadiana’s newest programs, Rebuilding Together Acadiana.

*Name changed to provide anonymity