In the News

A new inspector general’s report found that about $700 million awarded to help Hurricane Katrina victims fortify their homes from future floods is unaccounted for, which Congressional leaders say is a troubling sign of the need for tighter controls as Superstorm Sandy rebuilding efforts intensify this spring.

Beacon of Hope Resource Center helped with the reporting of this article and our Executive Director Tina Marquardt is quoted in the text version of the article on the second page.

Beacon of Hope New York was on the local news talking about the signs they are posting that are warning thieves and squatters to stay out of homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

Not everyone is fleeing the Sandy-devastated neighborhoods of Staten Island.

As many take government buyouts for their destroyed homes, one group has started a push to show solidarity with owners who are staying put.

Beacon of Hope New York, a grassroots Sandy recovery group, is handing out lawn signs to let homeowners tell the city they’re staying put in their beach communities.

The Cambridge / Colony Block Captains, along with Beacon of Hope Resource Center and the St John the Baptist Parish Long-Term Recovery Group has joined together to host several Cambridge Colony events including their first annual Christmas in Cambridge / Colony event. It was held on Saturday, December 9, 2012. Children had the opportunity to take photos with Santa, while parents spoke to Beacon of Hope’s Jason Stopa about the recovery and neighborhood initiatives.

The city once again has made the Conde Nast Traveler list of the Top 10 Cities in the United States, ranking No. 8. The magazine made note of the city’s absence, saying it had made the cut this year “for the first time in ages.” New Orleanians may look at the magazine’s list and think that the city, which was preparing to host its 10th Super Bowl, was an obvious choice. Tourism officials say that the city has gotten 15 national accolades this year.

The collective work of many made this possible…

Denise Thornton, who started Beacon of Hope to help her neighbors in Lakeview rebuild and now shares her expertise with disaster victims across the country.

Fox 8 News did a nice story on Zion City’s First Night Out Against Crime block party. This was the first time this group of neighbors have hosted this event.

The Beacon of Hope Resource Center, New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity and the St. Bernard Project will work jointly to process applications, schedule work and supervise volunteers repairing homes. The effort will be funded by money raised locally by St. John United Way through its NO Place Like Home Rebuilding Initiative.

Beacon hosted a volunteer day Saturday, September 8th in LaPlace to assist residents with clean up after their community was flooded by Hurricane Isaac. WWL-TV aired a segment covering the event on their nightly news that evening

The Beacon of Hope Resource Center, which began in Lakeview after Katrina, is already mobilizing supplies and volunteers for LaPlace.

“Many of the LaPlace residents and churches pitched in to help New Orleans over the past seven years rebuild after Katrina. Now they are asking for our help,” Beacon of Hope officials said in an email message Tuesday.

How much do non-compliant Road Home recipients contribute to our blight problem in New Orleans, and what is being done about it? Beacon of Hope Executive Director Tina Marquardt appeared on WWL-TV to discuss the issue

David Hammer analyzes statistics on Road Home recipients who have not fulfilled their covenants with Road Home. Beacon’s director, Tina Marquardt, discusses Beacon’s outreach project and her hopes for addressing hardships.

Code for America fellows are working with the City of New Orleans for one year to create technology solutions focused on blighted property. This article highlights first steps the fellows are taking in their research, including consulting with Beacon of Hope on our new iphone app that helps neighborhoods collect data on property conditions.

Beacon’s Executive Director, Tina Marquardt, comments on new census data and neighborhood recovery.

Check out photos from the pre-Sugar Bowl clean up in the Lower 9th Ward with students from Arkansas and Ohio State Universities.

The Young Professionals Group with the US Geospacial Intelligence Forum volunteered part of their time during the conference to help residents of the Filmore Gardens neighborhood in New Orleans survey their neighborhood.

Bill Capo covers the Beacon of Hope and lowernine.org’s lot clean-up in the Lower 9th Ward. Over 600 volunteers from the Jewish Federation help clear lots and Lower 9th Ward residents and stakeholders gear up to survey properties.

Volunteers from the Jewish Federation’s General Assembly, happening in New Orleans, helped clear lots in the Lower 9th Ward this week. The event was coordinated by Beacon of Hope staff and residents from the Lower 9 Homeowner’s Association.

The Editors of Indagare, an online travel resource, interview Denise Thorton about the origins of the Beacon of Hope Resource Center and the rise of community engagement after the storm.

The Beacon of Hope was mentioned for its efforts to fight blight in New Orleans, in the Mayoral Debate on 12-15-2009.