Survivor Stories, Charlotte
In this picture, Charlotte is leading a briefing for clients from hurricane-affected areas seeking temporary housing and assisting a potential new resident. Charlotte looks like any other Dallas Housing
Authority employee but she isn’t. Charlotte works for New Orleans Housing Authority. She, like potential new residents, lost everything she owned in Hurricane Katrina.
Charlotte left New Orleans as soon as the storm hit. She, her husband and extended family (17 members total) evacuated to Charlotte’s hometown of McKinney, Texas. Since then, she has learned that her
home was destroyed and has seen her husband’s submerged business on television.
The New Orleans Client Services Manager works now to help others who are in the same situation. Temporarily living in DHA housing, Charlotte meets with approximately 75 people each day who also lost
their homes and belongings in the hurricane.
She helps place them in temporary homes and refers them to other DHA staff that can assist with immediate needs such as food and long term needs such as employment.
Charlotte is unbelievably professional and upbeat her personal loss. She says that the best part of working with DHA is that “these clients see a familiar face” when they walk through the door.
