Ann R. Parfaite

Ann R. Parfaite grew up in New Orleans and purchased a home in the Lower 9th Ward in the late 1960’s. She and many of her neighbors moved to what Ms. Parfaite fondly refers to as “tree-lined Tennessee Street” following Hurricane Betsy.

“My street was quiet,” said Parfaite. “It was a neighborhood of families who knew and looked out for each other and raised children together. Many of us belonged to the same church.”

With the threat of Hurricane Katrina looming in August 2005, Ms. Parfaite evacuated to Alexandria, Louisiana with her daughter. She stayed there until November, when she returned to New Orleans and to her job with Delgado Community College.

Ms. Parfaite retired recently and moved in with her daughter on the West Bank. While she is grateful for the opportunity to stay with her daughter and grandkids, Ms. Parfaite wants to return home to her neighborhood, neighbors and her church—St. David Catholic Church—which is now a 30 minute commute from her daughter’s home.

Mary Fontenot of All Congregations Together (ACT) called Ms. Parfaite to attend a community meeting in August of 2007. “It was the first time I’d ever heard about Make It Right,” said Parfaite. 

“This project affords residents in the Lower 9th Ward the opportunity to return to their neighborhood under better conditions than they were prior to the hurricane. I am very happy to be able to participate in the Make It Right program and to be restored to my home in the Lower 9th Ward,” said Parfaite. Make It Right is proud to help Lower 9th Ward residents like Ann Parfaite to achieve their goal of returning home. Parfaite chose a three bedroom Shigeru Ban home design by Shigeru Ban Architecture of Tokyo, Japan. She will move into her home in July 2009.

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