Help Ms Beany rebuild her house post Hurricane

Hi Friends! My name is Nicole and many of you know me from my work founding Brown Recluse Zine Distro , my tarot services via Chupaflor Divination and from being a punk about the country. I am reaching out to the universe on behalf of my good friend and neighbor Ms. Beany. I have had the privilege of getting to know her this past year, hanging on the porch, talking about The Saints, supporting and getting to know one another. I have come to know and learn all about this very special block in the St. Roch neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana and the many ways Ms. Beany cares for and looks after everyone who lives here. Ms. Beany is a quiet and wonderful woman with an enormous presence and impact. She is the kind of person who creates community and unity effortlessly and the type of person naturally I see so many people strive to be. From checking on elderly and disabled neighbors to being a lighthouse for her family and all those around to the music and porch gatherings she hosts complete with food and joy to washing out everyones festering garbage cans after the hurricane, her kindness knows no limit.

 

Hurricane Ida's impact has been hard on this whole area and there is no shortage of people who need support currently. The St. Roch neighborhood is a historically Black neighborhood that is home to this city's most important culture bearers that is being eroded with AirBnB's, house flippers and out of towners looking to capitalize off of the disaster capitalism post Hurricane Katrina. Generations of families forced to sell and abandon their homes due to rising property taxes, hurricane damage that has to wait much to long for repair and rapid gentrification.

 

Ms. Beany has owned her home for 33 years. The house initially sustained damage during Hurricane Katrina. Ms. Beany hired a contractor that took her money and left her house in disrepair. (A common occurrence post hurricane is grifters taking advantage of disaster) Hurricane Ida exacerbated the damage to her roof causing extensive damage to the drywall causing water to enter in her home and ruining furniture, clothes and many other things. The entire East side of the house needs repair. Insurance and FEMA will not cover damages.

 

Ms. Beany's daughter, who shares her home with her, is pregnant and expecting to raise her child in the their family home. This fundraiser is important not only for Ms. Beany but also to secure her home for their families future generations. Supporting Black home ownership and land stewardship in the South is one of the many ways we can make reparations and support generational wealth through people retaining their homes in their neighborhoods.

 

The timeline is urgent as rain continues to fall and hurricane season isn't over. Currently the roof is tarped and Ms. Beany is battling with black mold growing with each rain storm while trying to prepare for her grandchild and heal from injuries she sustained at work earlier this year. We found a reliable and community known contractor to begin the work ASAP. The amount asked for is enough to pay for the repair of the east side of the roof, the damages sustained to the inside of the house and to replace items like mattresses and furniture in time for a new baby to arrive.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read about this campaign. Thank you for taking the time to share within your networks. Thank you for donating and making the future a little brighter for this incredible woman who has shared so much with me and this neighborhood. If you have any questions about this campaign please feel free to contact me at [email redacted]