Hello, all! My name is Peter Webb, and I live with my wife and daughter in one half of a double in Gentilly, New Orleans. My brother-in-law and my son live in the other half. My wife and brother-in-law own the whole structure.

I have several online teaching gigs coming up soon. I'm teaching an anthropology course for Nunez Community College in St. Bernard Parish this summer and fall. I'm also teaching three anthropology courses for Indiana University Northwest, one this summer and two in the fall. I'm teaching an introductory social science class for the University of Maine at Augusta in the fall. And I'm grading AP exams in human geography the first week of June. My wife is working as a psychic reader in a local shop, my brother-in-law is retired on a fixed income, and my son works at a local restaurant. My daughter is in high school. So, money will be coming in, but we need funds immediately as a stopgap.

On May 1st, my wife and brother-in-law received notices from the city office of permits and inspections threatening to put a lien on the house and evict us unless we take significant steps to make improvements. We have had some trouble keeping up with repairs, and somebody reported us to the city. We strongly suspect this is a gentrifier in Gentilly trying to get our house put up for auction so they can buy it cheap and flip it.

The roof needs work, or at least to have a tarp put over it, and the windowpanes on one side of the house need to be replaced. The front porch also needs to be repainted.

On June 5th, my wife and brother-in-law reported for a hearing with the city. It went very well, as they were able to show pictures of the cleared yard and tree growth, as well as a start on house painting. They were also able to show an estimate for a new roof. It will be about $25,000, but the roofer does provide financing, so depending on the rate we get, the four of us together--my wife, brother-in-law, son, and I--may be able to swing it. We have until August 11th to show proof of substantial improvements--continuing the paint job, fixing the windows, and getting a start on the roof--to buy us more time.

Anything will help us out. Our financial situation should improve by the end of the year, but presently we still need funds to continue what we started.

We all thank you in advance for anything you can do!

Sincerely,

Peter Webb