We are beyond excited to announce that the “House that STS9 Built” with the help of our amazing fans in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans is complete! A local family just closed on the house last week and have started to move in. The deserving family rented all their lives in the Lower 9th Ward, raising three sons. The husband has earned a living working as a carpenter for local construction companies and churches while his wife has worked at a popular store in the French Quarter for 15 years. The husband did not evacuate during Katrina. He stayed with the family dog, living in the attic for nearly 3 weeks. He watched boats float by, offering to rescue and take him to safety. He declined, not being able to say goodbye to his home and his neighborhood. It took police officers escorting him out at gunpoint for him to finally leave. They have been through hell. Today however, they are a resilient, stronger, and even hopeful family. The family is beyond grateful to STS9, their fans, and Make It Right. Their MIR home is a dream that’s finally come true.
The home comes with many eco-friendly features, including solar panels, high efficiency HVAC system, wire-free lighting panels, tankless water heater, dual flush toilets, low e windows & doors, a rainwater collection system and water absorbing native landscaping. And, for future storms, the home comes equipped with walls that can withstand 130mph winds, kevlar hurricane shields for the windows and a roof hatch in case an escape is necessary.
Please enjoy the images that STS9 photographer Eric Rejman took of the completed house on a recent trip to New Orleans. It’s truly amazing what we can build when we all pitch in together – and here is the proof. Thanks again to the artists, friends & family who donated their time, energy and art to “Peaceblaster: The New Orleans Make it Right Remixes” – the centerpiece of this fund drive. And most especially, thanks to all the fans who participated in our various fundraising efforts over the past few years, and who came out to see the band and in turn supported a great cause. Couldn’t do it without y’all. From the bottom of our hearts, Thank You!
May 5th, 2011 at 12:10 pm
Amazing! Glad we all came together and made this happen!… what do you say we got this ball rolling again for Tuscaloosa? See yall @ Hangout
May 5th, 2011 at 12:32 pm
WE built this. Such wonderful evidence of what can be accomplished. Just curious about your statement involving the “closing”. In my familiarity that is a term used in a sale? How was the house transferred to this family? How were they picked. Who picked them?
May 5th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
This awesome y’all! Great work!
May 5th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
this is a beautiful house. so nice to see something so nice for new orleans from all of us.
May 5th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Love it!!! Nice work! So so so so so so happy to have you guys back on tour and bringing so much beauty and love to world not only in the form of your wonderful music, but also terrific community work such as this! And thanks to all the fans that contributed to…what a great community we have!
May 5th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Dual Flush Toliets! That’s whatsup.
May 5th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
this is awesome! you guys rock. looking fwd to seeing u @ SCAMP.
al.
May 5th, 2011 at 8:16 pm
tis a beautiful thang. lookin’ forward to a great summer
May 6th, 2011 at 8:56 am
very proud.
May 6th, 2011 at 11:24 am
sweet tech on that house. nice job
May 6th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
i was in nollins last weekend i shoulda stopped by and seen it. great job everybody… and thank you sound tribe
May 6th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
[...] deserving family rented alltheir lives in the Lower 9th Ward, raising three sons,” reads a statement issued by the band.“The husband did not evacuate during Katrina. He stayed with the family [...]
May 8th, 2011 at 1:06 am
[...] deserving family rented all their lives in the Lower 9th Ward, raising three sons,” reads a statement issued by the band. “The husband did not evacuate during Katrina. He stayed with the family [...]
May 8th, 2011 at 11:29 am
it’s things like this that always remind me of why i support this band and continue to share in this community.
time is art.
big ups.
May 9th, 2011 at 10:03 pm
You said it Zeen! Thank you guys for spreading so much love with your music and actions. Makin it right
May 16th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
It’s truly amazing!! Thank you for your continued support and love for those less fortunate. I would love to see pics/vids when the family moves in!
One <3
Vanessa
May 17th, 2011 at 10:54 am
What a great accomplishment! This house is beautiful.
May 17th, 2011 at 11:27 am
Wow, that is so awesome. Makes me happy to see that this stuff actually happens.