November 2 , 2005— DHIC, a Raleigh, North Carolina, NeighborWorks organization, quickly identified 11 vacant apartments in its Wake County complexes, providing homes for a total of 20 evacuees ages 8 to 76. Households ranged from young couples to multi-generational families to seniors living on their own. The U.S. Treasury and the IRS waived certain requirements, enabling DHIC to offer its low-income designated apartments to hurricane victims without income verification.

Staff at DHIC’s property management company, Community Management Corporation, were instrumental in helping shelter residents apply for and get settled in their new apartments. Craig Davis Properties sponsored a DHIC family, furnishing their apartment and providing financial and in-kind support. Able Human Services, a faith-based non-profit organization, also helped furnish and stock apartments, and pledged continuing support in the months ahead to ensure the success of the new Raleigh residents.

Already challenged by a lack of funds, important papers, and unfamiliarity with the area, Katrina families have had to navigate a complex system of rules and rapidly-changing information.

“It’s been hard to get things in order and knowing who to contact with questions is very difficult,” says Malcolm Johnson, age 48, who is now living in DHIC’s Avonlea Apartments. “Getting my FEMA checks and other items properly mailed to me is a big priority.”

With plenty of work experience in the French Quarter, Johnson is determined to move forward. “I want to get a job and be able to get back on my feet and start over again,” he says.

Lionel Jaquet, age 68, now lives at Murphey School, a DHIC seniors apartment community in downtown Raleigh. “Before Katrina,” he says, “I lived in a house right near Lake Pontchartrain that was built by my father. I grew up in that home and I owned the house.”

While his apartment at Murphey school is “OK for now,” Jaquet says he still wants to go back to new Orleans to rebuild.

“The night time is very quiet here. It’s not the same as home,” he says.