Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina and the floods that followed devastated the Gulf Coast, displacing families, destroying homes, and disrupting communities. Since then, community leaders, residents, and local partners have worked tirelessly to rebuild homes, restore trust, and reimagine the region. Enterprise is honored to have stood alongside them—listening to their stories, supporting their resilience, and helping to restore a place so many proudly call home.

Here's a look back at some of the work over the last 20 years. 

 

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    2005

    Hurricane Katrina bears down on the Gulf Coast leaving devastation in its path and displacing more than 1 million people. Beyond the toll on lives, homes, businesses and public infrastructure, the storm and the flooding that followed exposed deeply entrenched poverty and substandard living conditions of families across the region. The disaster created an unprecedented affordable housing crisis, and the recovery revealed disproportionate challenges faced by low income and minority households. 

    Boy on a bicycle riding past a home with boarded up windows and debris piled up on the sidewalk
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    2005

    To support the recovery and rebuilding of the region affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act passed by Congress provided tax benefits including $330 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, a crucial resource for rebuilding affordable rental housing Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Texas. Enterprise’s public policy office was part of a coalition that advocated for these important resources. 

    Twenty years later, it’s now time for policymakers to turn their focus toward ensuring the long-term viability of these essential housing developments. Learn more about GO Zone.

    An apartment building devastated by Hurricane Katrina with a no trespassing fence in front of it
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    2006

    We opened our Gulf Coast office in New Orleans to support rebuilding of homes and lives, focusing on the hardest-hit areas and households with very low incomes. Our priorities were to increase capital for quality affordable homes, support public sector and nonprofit capacity, advocate effective policies, and demonstrate resilient, healthy, and energy efficient models of development. We set an ambitious goal of being a catalyst for the development of 10,000 affordable homes in the region through the investment of more than $200 million in loans, grants, and equity.

    Watch "I am Coming Home"

    A man at speaks at a podium as a woman stands next to him with other people seated behind them
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    2007

    Five Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellows helped integrate resilient and sustainable building practices and products into the affordable housing developments in New Orleans and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Delta Region. Host organizations included Providence Community Housing, Gulf Coast Community Design Studio, Greenwood-Leflore Economic Development Foundation/Carl Small Town Center, Hope Enterprise Corporation, Delta Design-Build Workshop and New Orleans Redevelopment Authority. The five Rose Fellows were Carey Clouse, Seth Welty, Emily Roush Elliott, Michelle Stadelman, and Nick Satterfield.

    A man talks with two women at a table with a poster on it
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    2009

    In Ocean Springs, Mississippi, residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina moved into new energy-efficient homes at Cottage Square, the first Katrina cottage neighborhood. These cottages are among the 3,000 that were built by the State of Mississippi as alternatives to the FEMA travel trailers. Enterprise partnered with the Katrina Cottage Group, LLC and other nonprofits to demonstrate how these cottages – that once provided temporary housing for homeowners while their storm-damaged homes were being rebuilt – can provide high-quality, permanent affordable, workforce housing when used in an appropriate setting.

    A small blush colored cottage with a white roof and steps with trees in the backyard
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    2010

    In Waveland, Mississippi, the Bay Waveland Housing Authority celebrated the opening of Oak Haven Apartments, cottage-style homes that feature state-of-the-art wind- and water-resistant construction techniques. Oak Haven provides a much-needed source of affordable homes, a community center, and full program-services for area seniors, including former public housing residents who were displaced by Katrina. The Oak Haven development was the first public housing to be rebuilt in Hancock County, which was ground zero for Katrina in Mississippi.

    Two women stand in front of homes on a neighborhood block
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    2011

    Enterprise partnered with Providence Community Housing and L+M Development in the revitalization of the former Lafitte public housing community in New Orleans’ historic Treme neighborhood.  Designed with meaningful participation from former Lafitte residents, the new Faubourg Lafitte consists of affordable and market-rate rental and for-sale homes on the original 27 acres. Built to Enterprise Green Communities standards, Lafitte offers residents programs to improve personal and financial wellbeing, academic achievement, and health through the Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center.

    Two boys on a sidewalk lined with yellow two-story homes
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    2011

    Enterprise, the State of Louisiana Office of Community Development-Disaster Recovery Unit, and Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group launched the Louisiana Loan Fund’s construction take-out loan product to support the development of affordable single family for-sale homes on formerly vacant and blighted properties. Together with the early predevelopment and acquisition product, the Fund’s three products have supported the construction of over 1300 affordable rental and single family for-sale homes for low to moderate income residents across Louisiana.

    A woman sits on the steps of the entrance to a home
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    2012

    Renaissance Neighborhood Development Corporation created the Lykes Steamship District at 1770 Tchoupitoulas Street, a two-acre site along the Mississippi riverfront in New Orleans. The rehabilitated historic building contains Centennial Place, a 52-unit residential rental apartment building and a climate-controlled storage facility. The renovated Centennial Cotton Press Building houses Fresh Food Factor, operated by Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana, which provides nutritional meals to institutional customers and training for employment in the city’s vast food service industry. This investment brought our total investment over our initial $200 million goal.

    A man holds a large tray of baked goods to place in a rack of a commercial kitchen
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    2015

    President Barack Obama, accompanied by Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, visited Faubourg Lafitte to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. “What you are seeing here is an example of incredible federal, state, local partnerships that helped revitalize this community.” Video: The President Tours Faubourg Lafitte Neighborhood.

    Watch The President Tours Faubourg Lafitte Neighborhood. 

    President Obama and a Mayor Mitch Landrieu on a neighborhood tour of Faubourg Lafitte neighborhood
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    2016

    Historic floods devastated parts of south Louisiana after more than 20 inches of rain affected parts of East Baton Rouge and nearby parishes in a three-day span. In response to the flooding, Enterprise’s Gulf Coast Office created the Louisiana Disaster Assistance Relief Fund, supporting the work of nonprofits to gut over 400 homes, manage over 2,500 volunteers, and provide disaster case management services to over 250 families.

    A home that had been damaged by the floods from Hurricane Katrina being repaired
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    2017

    Hurricane Harvey ravaged the Texas Gulf Coast, producing 130-mph winds and dropping more than 50 inches of rain on parts of southeast Texas. Enterprise, in partnership with Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC), created the Housing and Economic Assistance to Rebuild Texas (HEART) program which has provided over $2.5 million in grants and technical assistance to 39 nonprofits providing housing assistance to families displaced or otherwise affected by Hurricane Harvey.

    Housing & Economic Assistance to Rebuild Texas (HEART) with a red house and white heart
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    2019

    Recognizing that the urgency of the U.S. housing crisis demanded a creative and comprehensive approach, the Wells Fargo Foundation collaborated with Enterprise Community Partners to launch the Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge to support innovative and scalable approaches in housing construction, housing finance, and resident services and support. In the challenge’s two rounds (2020 and 2023), four organizational winners came from the Gulf Coast region: BuildUP,  Dreambuild, Ground Solutions Network, Gulf Coast Housing Partnership, and Hope Enterprise Corporation.

    A man carries a tall ladder as he walks in front of a home under construction
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    2020

    In Louisiana, Enterprise works closely with the Louisiana Housing Corporation to align our Green Communities certification with the state’s disaster recovery efforts like the PRIME program. Through this partnership, we are providing hands-on technical assistance to developers and delivering training to help local housing providers integrate resilience measures like emergency power, elevated systems, and storm-resistant construction like The Woodring Apartments in Lake Charles. 

    Streetview of the Woodring Apartments
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    2020

    In 2020 Enterprise launched Equitable Path Forward (EPF), our five-year, $3.5 billion nationwide initiative to help economically and socially disadvantaged developers gain access to capital and resources. With the help of an EPF investment, the City of New Orleans, and the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC), New Orleans Restoration Properties will create and preserve critically needed affordable housing in Hollygrove and bring investment to a community that has historically seen minimal funding for new development. 

    Watch Equitable Path Forward: A Developer's Story.

    A street lined with white homes
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    2021

    Launched in 2021, the New Orleans Community Development Organization Fund provides critical operating support to local nonprofits that serve as anchors of the city’s neighborhoods. The Fund provides financial and technical assistance, supports the creation of affordable homes, and ensures the grantees can develop and train new staff. 

    Watch Powering Nonprofits, Building Communities.

    Two women sitting on chairs in front of a table with an orange tablecloth and papers on it
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    2022

    A regional cohort made up of multifamily and single-family affordable housing owners, operators, and developers learned how to implement effective and affordable strategies to make their properties more resilient to the environmental risks across Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. Our Building Resilient Futures program also supports organizations through technical assistance and grants to better prepare for the next storm. 

    Watch Building Resilient Futures.

    A man writes on paper on an easel
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    2022

    Forty community and housing leaders from across the country were honored for their work during our 40th Anniversary convening in Washington, D.C. Among them were three Gulf Coast leaders: Fred Johnson, CEO of the Neighborhood Development Foundation in New Orleans; Terri North, president and CEO of Providence Community Housing; and Emelda Paul, a Lafitte resident and longtime advocate for redevelopment after Hurricane Katrina.

    Fred Johnson with the Rouses
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    2024

    Enterprise brings its Faith-Based Development Initiative (FBDI) to Texas, advancing our mission to expand affordable housing in partnership with houses of worship nationwide. Through FBDI, we provide financial support and technical expertise to congregations in Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas exploring ways to transform vacant or underused land into affordable homes and community facilities.

    A group of people wearing orange hard hats, ready to take a tour


     

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    2024

    People's Housing+ (PH+) is a New Orleans-based nonprofit that seeks to address the city's affordable housing crisis by advancing multigenerational wealth with energy-efficient, storm-resilient homes. PH+ CEO Oji Alexander explains how green infrastructure can help New Orleans’s water challenges and how the FORTIFIED roof program helps prepare homeowners for the next storm.

    Oji Alexander speaks into a microphone with Michelle Whetten, VP and Market Leader for the Gulf Coast behind him
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    2025

    Providence Community Housing, VPG Holdings, and HANO break ground on Lafitte Phase VII in New Orleans’ Treme neighborhood. The development will deliver 51 affordable homes, including six restored one-bedroom apartments in a historic public housing building—which will also include the property management office—and 45 newly built homes. The new construction will feature 35 single-family homes and five duplexes with two- to four-bedroom units. Enterprise invested $10.8 million in LIHTC equity.

    Rendering of Lafitte Phase 7