Demographics

Population

As of June 2009, Pontchartrain Park is ranked 65th of the 74 New Orleans neighborhoods in terms of population recovery since Katrina.  Pontchartrain Park is one of ten neighborhoods that have recovered 50% or less of its pre-Katrina population.

Of Pontchartrain Park's 1,060 residents pre-Hurricane Katrina, 97% were Black.  Nearly all of those occupants (92%) owned their homes, almost double the rate citywide.  Moreover, very few residents were impoverished - only about 10% lived below the poverty line, compared with 28% parish wide.  Nonetheless, with many residents living on fixed retirement income and the costs of insurance, medical care and energy rising, the number of families living below the poverty line is likely to increase.  Many families will struggle to pay escalating medical and energy costs and the maintenance of their homes will suffer.

Blight

According to recent HUD statistics nearly 66,000 residential addresses across New Orleans are unoccupied.  Post office data suggests that approximately 59,000 residential addresses are blighted or represent empty lots.  Only Detroit with its 68,415 abandoned and vacant properties exceeds the New Orleans total.

There are approximately 1200 Road Home, abandoned and blighted properties that must be renovated or rebuilt in the Pontilly area which includes the neighborhoods of Pontchartrain Park and Gentilly Woods.

Affordable Housing

Currently the homeless population in New Orleans is estimated to be 12,000, double the number prior to Hurricane Katrina.  Of that 12,000 approximately 1900 are homeless veterans.  Housing costs in New Orleans have also risen because of the low supply of affordable housing.  The fair market rent for two bedroom apartments has risen 52% since Katrina from $676 in 2005 to $1030 in 2009.  Rents for three bedroom apartments have also risen 52% to $1323 in 2009.