Wayland to Waveland
Selects Families For New Homes

The Wayland to Waveland Steering Committee set clear and high standards for selection of families to receive new homes in its fall 2007 campaign to add eight new homes to the stock in the Mississippi city so hard-hit by Hurrican Katrina. The process continues to identify and contract with a total of eight families. So far, here are those selected:

4 Houses on Combel Ave

Rose Luciano is a 37-year-old single mother of 15-year-old Shelby. Prior to Katrina she and her daughter were renting at a local apartment complex. Rose was a 911 supervisor for Hancock Sheriff's dept. serving her community for nine (or more) years. She sent her daughter to Picayune to stay with family while she remained on the job during the storm. She and 40 coworkers, as well as 180 prisoners, were stranded for three days and had to get canned goods and water from the local Winn Dixie. In her relaying her experience she seemed to "be back" during that horrible time and wept. She finally came across another deputy who had a working vehicle and "begged" him to take her to Picayune to try to locate her daughter. Once she was reunited with her daughter, they stayed with family members for seven weeks, then returned to the area and rec'd a FEMA trailer. Her trailer is presently in a FEMA park in Kiln, MS. She described the park as being full of "bad" activity and said she would do anything to remove her daughter from that living situation.

In Jan. 2006 she enrolled in Pearl River Community to begin studies for a profession as a paralegal. She no longer works for the Sheriff's dept., but works full time at the Diamondhead Country Club as a waitress. She claims ALL of her tips, a woman with integrity.

Kenneth Cunningham is a 40-year-old single father of Kendra, age 14, and Kelsy, 8. Prior to the storm he was living on property that he and his sister jointly owned. He was married at the time of the storm, but his wife left him after the storm using the storm as a good excuse to end the marriage. She remains in the area and is to be paying Kenneth child support, which she fails to do. He lost his home and contents in the storm and left the area to live in the panhandle of Florida with his two children while trying to recover from the devastation. After living and working there for several months, he returned to Waveland to be near his sister so she could help with the care of his children. He and his girls live in a FEMA trailer in a FEMA park where, he like Rose, fears for the safety of his children because of illegal drug activity. He is the manager of the local Domino's Pizza and desires to remain in the area for his children and his job.

John Harris is a 32-year-old single dad with two children, Paula, age 10 and Daslun, 8. His daughter lives with him fulltime while he sees his son on holidays, weekends and summers. John rented in Waveland prior to Katrina, but now owns his own property. He is very active in the Waveland community and was actually a First Responder during the storm saving a relative from drowning. His father is also a active community minded individual serving the black community of Waveland.

After the storm, John moved to Greenville until July 2006 when he then rec'd his FEMA trailer in Bayside Park. He moved back so he could better care for his daughter as in Greenville he had no family to assist him. He expressed great desire to "just have a house so he and his children can have a better life. He is employed with the city of BSL.

Stephen and Tara Blossom are a young married couple with three-year-old, Autumn. Prior to Katrina they were renters in Pass Christian, but have been in this area for years with both sets of grandparents living here as well. Their home was totally destroyed along with all of their contents. They have since lived with different family members and presently live with Tara's mother, Pansy Brown, in a home Lagniappe built last year. They have rec'd a student loan from Sally Mae so Stephen can attend college. Stephen also works full time at a local casino as a server and manager's assistant. Tara is a stay at home mom and also watches her small nephew. After the storm they acquired some property from Tara's grandmother. They have sought to better themselves with little to none outside help.

Second Property with 4 houses

Michelle Page is a 32-year-old single mother of two children, 13 yr. old Erika and 11 yr. old Devon. Prior to Katrina, the three of them were living in a mobile home on Michelle's brother's property, which Michelle purchased after the storm using her money she received from FEMA. She and her children evacuated to Alabama for four days and transferred to GA for a month before returning to the Silver Creek area. She received her FEMA trailer in October 2005 and continues to live there. Her FEMA trailer is one WITHOUT an oven.

She is employed with CJ's market as a cook usually working 40 hours. She has been with her present employer for over 5 years. She has 100 % hearing loss with some hearing thru hearing aids. She needs surgery for removal of tonsils and adenoids but does not have the funds to do so.

She has made excellent choices with her income, purchasing her property and an older model car which she has no car payments. She made a very typical comment during our visit stating, "I thought I would be back to normal by now."