The Greater New Orleans Citizens Relief Team

There is an explosion of direct action in New Orleans, defending the rights of unhoused people to shelter and life. During the pandemic and economic collapse, New Orleans housing activists created a political space for people to come together. Following frequent street demonstrations at New Orleans’ City Hall, activists succeeded in getting the City to provide emergency housing in empty hotels starting in August 2020. Now grassroots activists are renovating City-owned blighted houses with the presently unhoused people that will live in them. Organized by The Greater New Orleans Citizens Relief Team (GNOCRT), they are asking the city government and those individuals with construction skills to assist in this dramatic and impactful project. 
The organizing that Ella Baker taught  is the bedrock of this organizing project: go to the poorest people, create a shared plan for advancement, raise the spirits and awareness of our people, gain broad support and make it happen.