Harris Family Story - Mission to Mississippi

Wayland to Waveland’s
‘Mission to Mississippi’
Letters from the Families

John Harris’ Story

   I’m a single parent trying to raise my daughter right. It’s sad for me that my daughter’s mother is not around. I’d like for her to see her mother but I don’t know even know where she is. My parents have always been together and have guided me to try to do the right thing by her. I’ve had to be persistent and not give up.

   Before the church gave me the Wayland to Waveland phone number, I didn’t have a clue how I would recover from the disaster. Right after the storm, I could only sit and cry. We lost everything. I was in shock with no feelings and no emotions. I was dependent on FEMA. When I returned to Waveland in 2006, I had no money and nowhere to live. I needed money to turn things around. At one point, a friend sold me some property that I am now paying off, but when I tried to get sewer there was no one to help me. I went to the church for help and they gave me the Wayland to Waveland phone number. After I spoke with Miss Cindy and Miss Kathie, I felt hopeful and a big sense of relief for the first time, but I was scared to believe that all this would happen. Now, I hope to sell my land so I can have money to move into the house.

   This project is amazing and the neighborhood is so familiar. I grew up nearby, my parents now have a home closely, the church is close, and it turns out that I went to school with a woman who will live in one of the other houses. I can’t wait to get over here and help do something, but it’s hard to find the time when I have work and have to make sure my daughter does her homework. If I’m not around, she doesn’t do it. I’m excited about having a house let alone a new house.

   When I moved out of the trailer to the apartment we are living in, FEMA said they would pay the rent, but they aren’t and now they say I am “double dipping” because I want rent and their records say I still have the trailer. Now they say they want to prosecute. Different people at FEMA say different things. I may have to move into my parent’s home until the house is ready so I can save the rent money to set up the house.

   I love to cook. When we move into the house, I want to invite everyone who helped. You all are amazing and the homes are amazing. They went up so fast. I’m really grateful. Now that I see the houses actually being built, I think I can start to believe all this will really happen.

   In order to get to this point, I couldn’t give up. I had to be persistent and do whatever I could to find a solution. I did my best to do the right thing. Many people aren’t trying or don’t know how to move on. Now, people treat me with respect and ask me advice. Persistence and follow through have gotten me here. I never gave up. I talked to a lot of people along the way. Now I hope I can help others. Once again, thank you.