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Homeowner Bio
 Like many other residents of the St. Bernard Parish, Regina Beal spent her entire life here. She grew up here, she raised her children here, and now her grandchildren are growing up here. St. Bernard Parish is the only home she and her family have ever known, and they would not have it any other way.
In 1998, Regina and Ernest, her husband, moved into a new home in St. Bernard. They peacefully lived in the home until Katrina struck in August 2005. As the storm moved through, Regina, 55, and her entire family, including her children and grandchildren, were trapped in the Methodist Hospital where Regina worked. Even in these dire straits, the family still had each other. The family remained abandoned in the hospital for five days, until finally they were airlifted out by helicopter.
From there, they were dropped off at the New Orleans airport with thousands of other displaced residents. The family waited in line for a bus, having no idea where they were going or even if they would be able to stay together. The family eventually made its way to Lafayette hospital to get treatment and detoxify from the disaster. After that point, temporary shelters were the only home they knew. For the first time in her life, Regina had no place to call home.
“I didn’t have anywhere to go,” she said, fighting back tears.
Then, as a glimmer of hope, a stranger in Lafayette opened her doors to Regina and her family. Moon and Dave, of Lafayette, came to the family's rescue. The couple opened their doors to the Beal family, and let them stay with them until they found a stable home.
“I will never forget them,” she said with lightness in her voice.
Her daughter, Kreslin, was finally able to close on her house in Baton Rouge and Dave, Kreslin’s husband, moved the rest of the family to Baton Rouge. Regina took a security job in New Orleans in 2006 and continued to commute each day until Ernest became ill in 2008. Sadly, Ernest lost his battle and passed away in March 2009 at the age of 95.
Still jobless, Regina has been living in an apartment in Violet with her daughter and grandson, Devin, 17 months. She attempted to rebuild her home, but like many others, fell victim to contractor fraud to the amount of $114,000. Regina has fallen on some hard financial times since then. She can’t afford to stay in her apartment and is unclear on what to do next. However, this has not deterred her too much.
“I haven’t stopped… I haven’t stopped,” she said with determination.
April 7, 2010
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Under Construction
Some of our homes currently under Construction
Barbara Williams, New Orleans, LA
Brenda Dupre-Williams, Lower 9th
Chana King, Violet, LA
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Cologero Caillouet, Chalmette, LA
Darren Anderson, Violet, LA
Darryn Carreras, Chalmette, LA
Darrell Betha, Mereaux, LA
David Lagrange, Arabi, LA
David Melerine, St Bernard, LA
Deborah Vita, Violet, LA
Debra Brown, Gentilly, LA
Delia Doty, Chalmette, LA
Donald & Tonya Topey, Violet, LA
Donnell Barthelemy, Violet, LA
Donnie Panarello, Chalmette, LA
Evelyn Solis, Chalmette, LA
Gerry Bierria, New Orleans, LA
Glenda Ceaser, Violet, LA
Jennifer Lanier, Violet, LA
Joycelyn and Lawrence Stokes, St. Bernard, LA
Joyce Guient, New Orleans, LA
Juan Toledo, Arabi, LA
Keith Florane, Chalmette, LA
Kenneth Burrell, Arabi, LA
Kenneth Dorsey, Lower 9th
Kwame & Dominique Adansi-Bona, Gentilly, LA
Mathilda & August Miller, Chalmette, LA
Mona Lisa Payne, New Orleans, LA
Ralph Dipadova, Chalmette, LA
Rebecca Holmes, St. Bernard, LA
Regina Beal, Violet, LA
Rhonda Krantz, St. Bernard, LA
Ricky Diecidue, Meraux, LA
Robert & Amy Barlow, Meraux, LA
Roosevelt Houston, Lower 9th
Sabrina Pacaccio, Violet, LA
Shane & Tina Meshell, Meraux, LA
Sharen Williams, Arabi, LA
Theresa McLuckey, Chalmette, LA
Vanessa Havers, St. Bernard, LA
Velma Lewis, New Orleans, LA
Willie Major, Violet, LA
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