Lorraine Hernandez was born and raised in St. Bernard Parish, and she built a life dedicated to her children and work.  She raised her two children, now grown,  all on her own working two jobs.  By day, Ms. Hernandez drove a school bus. After a long day of transporting children, her night shift began at Bally’s Casino.

After the storm, Ms. Hernandez not only lost her home, she lost one of her jobs, taking away more then half of her annual income. For the past two and a half years she has been alternating between staying with her daughter’s family and the house of a friend in Slidell.  Ms. Hernandez owned a trailer home before the storm, and because she didn’t own the land, she did not receive a FEMA trailer. 

Ms. Hernandez used her meager insurance money—not nearly enough to replace her house trailer—to buy a gutted home.  Though Ms. Hernandez works hard every day, she still does not have the funds to rebuild her purchased home. The St. Bernard Project will get her back in her home.

By Ashley Steitz