![Sample our Urban Studies journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110826/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Urban-Studies.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
This paper examines the realism of the resilience ambition and process of the U.S. housing system, shedding light on its heterogeneity as well as the financialization currently acting as the driving force in real estate production. The resilience ambition leading to enhanced justice and egalitarianism is understood as the provision and maintenance of post-disaster housing for all within an institutionally diverse landscape of housing policy makers and implementers. Particular emphasis is given to the post-Katrina institutional transformations resulting from multifarious interactions between multilevel institutional structures and a diverse landscape of low-income housing policy implementers – referred as social resilience cells (SRCs) in this paper. The nature and level of these transformations determine the degree to which resilience in its heterogeneous form has been incubated in New Orleans. The paper concludes with a discussion on the macro conditions and bottom-linked governance structures under which all SRCs could be better bolstered in a post-financialization, radicalised neowelfare U.S., and which in turn create possibilities for materialising the resilience ambition.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1 In this paper, the state is approached in its multi-level, multi-form entirety including its varied functions, agencies and bureaucratic apparatuses. State apparatuses, hence, are not examined as a unitary body but as separate yet interrelated public entities with different levels of autonomy, social and spatial foci, as well as openness to interact with other public entities and private bodies.
2 Examples of alternative SRC in post-Katrina New Orleans: Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative (http://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/video/jericho-road-episcopal-housing-initiative); Broadmoor Improvement Association (http://www.broadmoorimprovement.com/); Providence Community Housing (http://www.providencecommunityhousing.org/ ; Project Homecoming (http://projecthomecoming.net/); Gulf Coast Housing Partnership (http://www.gchp.net/); New Orleans Area Habitat For Humanity (http://www.habitat-nola.org/); Rebuilding Together New Orleans (http://www.rtno.org/).
3 “The Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance is a collaborative of non-profit housing builders and community development corporations working to rebuild the housing stock available in the city of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city’s infrastructure” (http://www.gnoha.org/main/home).
4 “Recovery Support Functions involve partners in the local, State and Tribal governments and private and non-profit sectors not typically involved in emergency support functions but critically needed in disaster recovery. These new partners may include public and private organisations that have experience with permanent housing financing, economic development, advocacy for underserved populations and long-term community planning” (Housing Recovery Support Function: https://www.fema.gov/recovery-support-functions).
5 Mercatus Center: https://www.mercatus.org/tags/gulf-coast-recovery-project, The Brookings Institute: https://www.brookings.edu/book/resilience-and-opportunity/.
7 “The legislature finds the that resources of nongovernmental non-profit organisations can contribute greatly to the state’s formalised framework for implementation of the requirements of this Chapter. Inclusion of the efforts of nongovernmental nonprofit organisations in the state’s emergency preparedness, response, and recovery plans to the greatest extent predictable is encouraged” (http://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=452286).
8 “A strategy to address the needs of the homeless and the at risk population, and to recognise the special needs of the various types of homeless individuals, must take into account the primary role of community based charitable organisations and voluntary programmes, alone or in partnership with local governments and public agencies, in establishing and supporting basic facilities and services for the homeless” (accessed at August 2014).
9 “In hurricane-impacted areas, successful models have been developed by CDCs and other non profits to secure and leverage resources in order to meet the needs of homeowners to complete their rebuilding process … The state has long recognised the success of these entrepreneurial efforts and has sought to secure funding for these programmes to continue their efforts to help homeowners recover” (Action Plan Amendment 33 (First Allocation) – Nonprofit Rebuilding Pilot Program: http://www.doa.la.gov/OCDDRU/Action%20Plan%20Amendments/Katrina-Rita%20First/APA33_Approved.pdf).
10 (1) A highly-ranked public employee in the city’s housing and community development office (personal communication, 4 September 2014) clarified that “the place-based approach is making sure that all government resources and private resources work together. For example, if the school system aims at building new schools in one neighbourhood, and a medical operating conglomerate also targets the same neighbourhood, then the city government will direct resources to make sure that all the necessary infrastructure (i.e. streets, sewage, drainage) will support the private investment that focuses on that area. This includes housing opportunities through the adjudication of vacant properties by the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA)”. He added: “investing resources to fix houses in areas that are not close to schools and hospitals is a not part of the strategy”. (2) Place-based revitalisation strategy in the City’s Blight Reduction Report: http://www.nola.gov/getattachment/Performance-and-Accountability/Initiatives-and-Reports/BlightSTAT/Blight-Report_web.pdf/.
11 Housing NOLA: http://housingnola.org/main/home.
12 “With disaster funding coming to an end, we have to look at smarter ways to leverage our dollars so that more and more families in our community have access to affordable housing … By investing in the community land trust approach, we’re committing to making—and keeping—homes affordable.” (president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation) (http://www.gnof.org/greater-new-orleans-foundation-invests-1-million-to-support-long-term-affordable-homes-for-new-orleans-families/).
13 LaToya Cantrell was the president of the Broadmoor Improvement Association in 2005 when the Broadmoor neighbourhood suffered from severe flooding following the post-Katrina levee failures. She emerged as a prominent activist organising the Broadmoor residents to fight against the unfair BNOB suggestions, and as a charismatic leader coordinating a participatory planning process for the recovery of the neighbourhood. Between 2012 and 2017 she represented District B in the New Orleans City Council. As a council member, LaToya worked closely with non-profit housing providers and their alliance, GNOHA to push forward changes in the local and State housing laws and programmes. On November 18, 2017, she was elected the mayor of New Orleans.
14 Vol.2 Ch.5 Neighbourhoods and Housing, http://www.nola.gov/city-planning/master-plan/.
15 “In 2014, New Orleans was officially selected to become a member of the 100 resilient cities network funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. NORA was chosen to coordinate resilience in New Orleans because it has a hand on implementation and hence, help the concept being applied on the ground” (J. Genova, Rockefeller Foundation 100 Resilient Cities Project Manager, personal communication, 15 April 2015).
16 Exemption Requirements 501 (c) (3) Organizations: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/exemption-requirements-section-501-c-3-organizations
17 Examples of lobby firms: http://www.vnf.com/Utility-Regulation-and-Compliance, http://www.squirepattonboggs.com/, http://bgrdc.com/.
18 Examples of national industry associations: http://nlihc.org/, http://www.enterprisecommunity.com/policy-and-advocacy/issues/policy-priorities, http://www.rga.org/, http://www.nlc.org/.