Ms. Estelle is 71 years old and has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which makes it difficult for her to breathe. She’s owned her home in Central City for the past twenty years. When Katrina hit she evacuated to Houston, and returned one month later to find her community devastated, “like a science fiction movie,” with no lights or water and everything at a standstill. Since then she has seen people come back, but recovery has been slow.

The United Saints Recovery Project, along with many groups of volunteers, has helped to brighten up her neighborhood by painting her house yellow with green trim, and fixing her windows.