Rapid Rehousing Proves Lifeline for Louisiana Hurricane Survivor
Last Updated: 12 Aug 2024

When two hurricanes destroyed her home and left her unemployed, this Lake Charles resident thought all was lost. Today, she has a new home and a new beginning.

The Storms That Changed Everything

In 2020 and 2021, Lake Charles, Louisiana, faced a barrage of natural disasters that seemed almost biblical in their intensity. Two devastating hurricanes, a rare snowstorm, and a flood swept through the community, leaving destruction and heartache in their wake.

Years later, the marks of these calamities are evident everywhere. Fragile blue tarps cling to damaged roofs, businesses remain shuttered, and many residents are still without permanent homes, living in temporary shelters, trailers, or even their cars. The homelessness crisis triggered by these disasters has deeply scarred the community, making the road to recovery slow and fraught with challenges.

In 2023, the Endeavors team arrived in Lake Charles, armed with a grant to help Lake Charles disaster survivors rebuild their lives. 

Residents like Felicia.

An Unimaginable Loss

A resident of Lake Charles, Felicia was hit hard by the one-two punch of Hurricanes Laura and Delta. Before the storm, Felicia had spent half a lifetime building a career in elderly and disability care. She also cared for her mother and niece. She had a home, a community, and a stable career with purpose.

Then, within a single week, her home was struck by both storms. She and her family had evacuated to Texas before Laura hit, narrowly escaping the devastation of three massive trees crashing into their home.

When they returned, they found their home unlivable and everything they owned destroyed. Everything Felicia had worked for was gone.

The loss was more than material. In addition to navigating homelessness and unemployment, Felicia had to manage the emotional and physical well-being of her mother and niece. 

“Dealing with losing everything, including my mom’s health, was overwhelming. We didn’t know where to start over. It took a toll on me, and we had to return to Texas,” she recalls.

Amid the wreckage, Felicia turned to her faith for comfort and strength. “I fasted, prayed, and listened to the calm of His voice,” she says.

Struggling For Stability

Recovering from a natural disaster is a long and arduous journey. Felicia’s mother eventually moved back into her apartment, but Felicia had to move into a temporary FEMA trailer in a remote area. 

Despite the hardships, she expressed gratitude for having a place to stay. “I’m grateful I qualified for [that] program,” she says. She began working for a local charity supporting survivors of Hurricane Ida, slowly regaining her footing.

Living in the trailer was challenging. One day, as she was leaving her trailer to attend a local high school graduation, a car struck her trailer, throwing her 15 feet. “I didn’t know what happened. I couldn’t see. My unit was flipped over, and about three neighbors came out. All I could see was my door open, and I couldn’t see people. I could see their silhouettes.”

At the hospital, doctors confirmed that Felicia had suffered a severe concussion along with injuries to her shoulder, hip, knee, and Achilles tendon. For four months, she lived with ruptured tendons and almost no vision, unable to work, care for others, or make strides toward regaining a permanent home.

Overcoming Devastation With Hope

It wasn’t until Christmas 2022, twenty-seven months after Hurricanes Laura and Delta destroyed her home, that Felicia met Endeavors at an outreach event, marking a new chapter in her life. 

In Lake Charles, Endeavors provides disaster survivors with essential services like rental application assistance, job support, housing stabilization, intensive case management, and referrals to outside resources. 

These services are vital for residents like Felicia, facing homelessness due to Hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Ida. After a brief intake session, Felicia was assigned a Case Manager, Harlie, who quickly found her a safer place to live.

Harlie found Felicia a safe, affordable apartment for Felicia and her niece in a well-looked-after neighborhood.

But they hit one more snag. Despite that her home had been deemed uninhabitable after the storm, Felicia’s electric company was still charging her, and she couldn’t put power in her name at her new apartment until the outstanding bill was paid. Not one to let funds stand in the way of finding a client housing, Harlie reached out to Endeavors’ community partners to fundraise the money and ensure Felicia could get power in her new home.

“I cried so much because I didn’t know what to expect,” Felicia shares. “When I got there, the light of the Lord met me there. My case manager, Miss Harlie, is very dedicated to people. She’s patient, professional, and on time.”

Thanks to these efforts, Felicia was able to pay her deposits, and today, she and her niece have a permanent residence they proudly call “home.” “I’m proud of Harlie,” Felicia says from her kitchen table, surrounded by her bustling family, decorating and arranging furniture. “Proud of all of y’all for showing up for us. I can breathe again. Just yesterday, we started turning this house into a home, and I’m forever grateful.”

How You Can Help Prevent Homelessness After A Natural Disaster

Felicia is one of 93 hurricane survivors who have recently recovered with assistance from the Louisiana Rapid Rehousing Program. If you are a landlord, consider partnering with the Louisiana Rapid Rehousing team. By providing housing to disaster survivors, you can play a crucial role in your community’s recovery process. To learn more about landlord incentives and how you can get involved, please contact us at [email protected] or call (337) 240-9050.

Together, we can help more residents like Felicia turn their houses into homes, one day at a time. Let’s rebuild Lake Charles, not just with bricks and mortar, but with compassion, hope, and unwavering support.

About Endeavors

Endeavors is a national service organization that has been assisting vulnerable populations since 1969. Endeavors offers an array of services and programs supporting children, families, migrants, Veterans and those struggling with mental illness, disabilities, disasters or emergencies. Endeavors serves people in crisis with personalized services. For more information, visit endeavors.org.