Edward

Ten years ago Hurricane Katrina hit the City of New Orleans driving out thousands of people including one of our guests, Edward, who landed in Memphis, Tennessee.  Despite being  a Southern University college graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice, Edward struggled with homelessness  for 8 years, both in Tennessee and in Louisiana.

After returning to New Orleans, Edward  became a regular guest of the Center in October of 2014 when staff learned of his chronic homelessness.  He shared that the hardest part about being homeless is sleeping. “Not knowing who is standing over you. And not knowing if a rat’s going to bite you. And the heat.”

Soon afterward, he became a participant in our Rapid Rehousing Program jointly administered with Depaul USA and made possible through a grant from UNITY of Greater New Orleans.   He has been happily living in his own house in the 7th Ward since July of last year.  What’s his favorite thing about his own house? “Having peace of mind. Being able to take a bath and read. Sit in the backyard and barbeque. And thank God I’m not outside in that heat.”

Edward spends his days looking for employment, going to church, watching movies, reading and  counting down the days until August rolls around and Secondline season starts up again. His self-proclaimed greatest gift is his ability to sing. He loves to sing and hang out in Armstrong Park or at the Aquarium.  He wants to be a productive member of the community and offers encouragement to others currently still homeless to “keep  on pushing and don’t give up because there is help in New Orleans.  When I came back I had nobody, but I stepped out on fate. Sure enough, this place helped me.”