Donald R. Phoenix worked at NeighborWorks® America for more than 26 years. He was regional vice president of the Southern Region at the time of Hurricane Katrina which hit New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, and was part of the NeighborWorks support team as the region began to rebuild. Isaac Igbonagwam, a relationship manager in the Southern Region, asked Phoenix for some of his reflections from that time.

NeighborWorks: How did the impact of Hurricane Katrina affect you personally?

In the days after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, communities began to think about rebuilding, even while still responding to the devastation. In South Mississippi, community and business leaders organized a business council to try to understand the region’s recovery. From that council came the Renaissance Community Loan Fund, now known as RCLF. The nonprofit was supposed to be temporary.

As homeowners surveyed what remained and assessed how to rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, some of those homeowners became mired in even more challenges: They learned that title to their home wasn’t officially theirs.

It’s been 20 years since Hurricane Katrina pummeled the Gulf Coast, bringing with it high winds, heavy flooding and devastation of land, homes, businesses and life. In New Orleans, where the levees failed, more than130,000 homes were damaged. Just weeks later, before people could even begin to clean up and rebuild, Hurricane Rita hit.

Greenville Housing Fund (GHF), a nonprofit committed to affordable housing and community development in Greenville, South Carolina, held a chartering ceremony this week celebrating its recognition as an official part of NeighborWorks® America’s network. Formed in 2018 with a commitment to creating opportunity, GHF supports development, preservation and financing solutions to meet the community’s growing housing needs.

In Florida, where the community development nonprofit Wealth Watchers is based, a Lady Bird Deed – a deed that says who will inherit the property if the owner dies but where the owner retains full rights (including sales rights) while living – is a legal way to transfer wealth. One state over in Georgia, which Wealth Watchers also serves, this type of deed is not legal.

Nearly half of U.S. adults are interested in buying a home, according to a recent national survey from NeighborWorks® America. But 38% of Gen Zers and 32% of Millennials fear they’ll never actually own one. Still, there are people out there showing that it can be done.

Shannon Ogden, a new homeowner who identifies as Gen Z, always thought she’d own a home someday. But the mental health therapist feared it might be years before she did.