Hurricane Ida’s terrible winds tore off siding and weakened the foundation of Debbie and Curtis Watler’s house in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans. Due to the age of the house, the structure is barely standing.

Ms Debbie's family has owned the house since 1958. Debbie and Curtis are pillars of the Treme community and are always the first to support neighbors, their church and every other person who knocks on their door. They are incredible people.

Our goal is to shore up the home so that it is structural enough to be a safe environment. Debbie turns 70 this year and I want to make sure she can stay in her beloved home, with her community, for the rest of her days.

They do not have home or flood Insurance.

With their permission, and because they are too humble to create a GoFundMe themselves, we are raising funds to help them fix their siding, shore up the foundation so that in future storms they will be safe.

Ursulines Ave in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans in an incredibly supportive community. Most of our neighbors are in their 60's and 70's and grew up on this street playing together as children. Another neighbor in the area paid 10,000 dollars of her own money last year to help the Watler’s restructure a portion of their home and that is probably the only reason the house didn’t fall down in Ida.

On September 8th they will celebrate their 51st wedding anniversary, possibly still without power.

LET'S HELP THEM CELEBRATE BY FIXING THEIR HOME

All funds go directly to them and will be used to rebuild.

Please help us help her, she needs immediate assistance so that permits can be filed to rehabilitate the house and hire a contractor. Currently with water coming in there is black mold starting to grow in their ceiling and wall. Curtis has limited mobility so creating safe air quality is the first priority.

Per GoFundMe rules to prevent fraud, I am Debbie and Curtis’s neighbor. 7 years ago with open arms they welcomed me into the community. I am a local artist, I teach printmaking at Tulane University and I sell art at Jazz Fest.