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May 2, 2006
Today I was really struck by a couple I interviewed.
Shane and Katy Smith won the chance to work on a Habitat build site with Shinedown - one of Shane's favorite bands--through a radio contest held by Bayou 95.7. They were on the Abita Springs, La., site early, ready to get started with the construction.
Both in their mid-20s, they've been married for two and a half years. Katy is from Covington, La., Shane from nearby Slidell, La. Their families live here; they do as well.
Both had heard of Habitat and had been interested in volunteering before, but they were happy their first build was with the band. They raised walls, laughed, hammered, made friends - the Habitat experience.
During a much-needed water break, they told me a little about their own experience with Katrina. Their Slidell apartment sustained structural damage and was flooded. They temporarily relocated to Austin, Texas, and stayed with friends, but they missed their families and felt they should be back in Louisiana to help them recover.
Now, they live with Shane's mother, in her under-renovation home. "Partially completed" is how Katy describes it. She later confides that they don't have a toilet in the house but are using a neighbor's FEMA trailer.
Still, she says, they're lucky: "So many people have less than we do."
Shane agrees. "Sure, we could use a house ourselves," he admits. "I even checked on how to apply for a Habitat house. But we don't even have kids. I think people with families, kids, should get houses first. It's important for kids to have a place to grow up."
Both agree they'll be back on a Habitat site soon.