HBAs Rally Support for Communities Impacted by Hurricane Ida

Membership
Published

In the days and weeks since Hurricane Ida devastated thousands of homes and businesses across the southeastern United States, home builders associations (HBAs) in Louisiana have banded together to support communities and members severely impacted by the storm.

One of the hardest-hit communities was Houma, La., which is home to the Southeastern Louisiana Home Builders Association (SELA HBA). As millions of homes across the state were without power or water, trailers loaded with donated food, generators, equipment and relief supplies began to arrive from HBAs across the country, along with member volunteers to cook and distribute meals and supplies to affected communities.

SELA HBA Executive Officer Wanda Belanger described the outreach in the days following the storm. "There was an incredible outpouring of support after the storm … with offers of donations from both HBAs and other businesses to help in the recovery efforts in Houma."

Associations from across the southeast, such as the Home Builders Association of Southwest Louisiana, Acadian Home Builders Association, Northshore Home Builders Association, Home Builders Association of Northeast Louisiana, Home Builders Association of Northwest Louisiana, Florida Home Builders Association and Baldwin County Home Builders Association in Fairhope, Ala., sprang into action to support these communities in need.

The Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans also worked within the communities of Avondale and Kenner through a partnership with their local food bank and other local organizations to distribute over a ton of food to families in need.

"The community comes together to take care of each other, we here across Louisiana and in the bayou are resilient... We are strong together," says Belanger.

Many of these efforts were coordinated by the Louisiana Home Builders Association through The Louisiana Home Builders Disaster Relief Fund. The fund has provided more than 2,000 meals to impacted communities, countless generators, critical supplies, and disbursed more than $32,000 in grants to members.

"Right now, there is still debris and damage in the community even as we get back to the new normal," says Belanger. She advises those looking to support the ongoing Hurricane Ida relief effort to consider contributing to the Louisiana Home Builders Disaster Relief Fund.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Economics | Housing Affordability

Sep 18, 2025

What the Fed Rate Cuts Mean for Housing and the Economy

After keeping rates steady through most of 2025, the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee voted at its September meeting to cut its key interest rate by 25 basis points, bringing the target federal funds rate down to 4.25%.

PWB Week | Professional Women in Building Council

Sep 17, 2025

Strength in Numbers: The Power of Professional Women in Building Councils

PWB councils of all sizes are helping reshape the narrative in the home building industry nationwide, merging inspiration and education with recreation and connection.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Sep 18, 2025

Women in Construction Reach Highest Share in Two Decades

In 2024, the number of women employed in the construction industry rose to around 1.34 million. Women now represent 11.2% of the construction workforce, the highest share in the past 20 years. This rise aligns with the growing presence of white-collar jobs in the industry.

Economics

Sep 17, 2025

The Fed Cuts and Projects More Easing to Come

After a monetary policy pause that began at the start of 2025, the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee (FOMC) voted to reduce the short-term federal funds rate by 25 basis points at the conclusion of its September meeting. This move decreased the target federal funds rate to an upper rate of 4.25%.

Economics

Sep 17, 2025

Housing Starts Remain Soft Ahead of Fed Meeting

Challenging affordability conditions continue to act as headwinds for the housing industry, but the sector could see lower interest rates in the near future with the Federal Reserve expected to cut short-term interest rates this afternoon.