United Saints Recovery Project

The mission of the United Saints Recovery Project is to help communities affected by disasters and to revitalize economically distressed neighborhoods. Our focus is to assist the elderly, disabled, and otherwise disadvantaged in rehabilitating and rebuilding their homes, as well as engaging in community service, art, and beautification projects. We do this with the help of local, national, and international volunteers.

The United Saints Recovery Project is a volunteer based, community embedded organization, founded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Since then, we have continued to work with the residence of New Orleans to enhance the quality of life in New Orleans by rehabilitating homes and revitalizing distressed neighborhoods.
Currently, we are running three programs in New Orleans. All of these programs draw from our vast volunteer labor force. Each year over 700 volunteers come to us from all over the country. Colleges, church groups, families and individuals bring not only their hard work but their caring and enthusiasm to make New Orleans thrive.

The Homeowner Repair Program provides disaster relief and recovery to homeowners in New Orleans and rehabilitates housing in economically challenged neighborhoods. Under the direction of experienced Team Leaders, our volunteers provide services such as roof repair, drywall installation, window and door replacement, siding, insulation, tiling, interior and exterior painting at no cost to the homeowner. Through this program, we are currently responding to the February 2017 tornadoes that struck New Orleans East.

The Neighborhood Beautification Program rejuvenates low income areas and alleviates conditions of blight. Through this program we conduct neighborhood clean-ups, secure empty houses and clear vacant lots to discourage the criminal activity and hazardous health conditions associated with abandoned properties. This program also draws on the creative talents of our volunteers and local artists to create murals, adding a positive focal point to troubled areas.

The Community Engagement Program encourages residential participation. This year we are initiating an urban micro-agriculture project, re-purposing commonly discarded materials to manufacture innovative sub-irrigating planters and distributing them to local residents who are interested in growing fresh vegetables as a way to cope with the effects of urban "food deserts."

Testimonials

"…the volunteers have given me hope when I had almost none left! Daryl [the Executive Director of the United Saints Recovery Project] has been tremendous and kind, and comes to check on things to see they are going smoothly."
"…this work that the United Saints has started is the difference between having shelter for me…or joining the other homeless on the street: It is life saving!
- New Orleans homeowner, aged 74, who has been the victim of contractor fraud. United Saints volunteers are working to restore her home to a safe, comfortable, livable condition.

"The constant passion United Saints shows for what looks like an uphill battle… is truly inspiring."
- United Saints volunteer

"Thank you for everything you do for this incredible city and letting us be a part of it."
- United Saints volunteer