“This Is Where I’m Supposed to Be”: Providing Affordable Housing and Community Connections in New Orleans

For a long time, Carolyn Myles had no place to call home. After arriving in New Orleans years ago—originally just planning to visit for Mardi Gras—she ended up staying, driven by a deep sense that this city was meant to be hers. But finding stable, affordable housing was anything but easy.

She managed to secure temporary arrangements and to stay in a family friend’s home while searching for a place she could afford. The options were bleak. Many of the apartments she toured were in disrepair, unsafe, neglected, and still far out of reach financially.

“One place I went to, I told the landlord what needed fixing. He said, ‘We’re not going to do that.’ I said, ‘Well, I am going to be able to stay here,’” she recalled. “Then, the St. Peter called me. It was a blessing. It was meant for me to be here.”

Today, Carolyn lives in The St. Peter Apartments, SBP’s net-zero energy efficient affordable housing community in New Orleans that’s helping residents rebuild their lives with dignity, stability, and purpose. For her, it’s an opportunity to start anew and stay rooted in the place she now calls home.

Affordable, Resilient Housing in Disaster-Impacted Communities

Carolyn’s story reflects a larger national crisis. Across the United States, many affordable housing units have structural deficiencies, making them extremely vulnerable to storms, flooding, and power outages. Without climate-resilient homes, disaster survivors are often left with no clear path to recovery.

To change this reality, SBP launched the Opportunity Housing program, which builds affordable, energy-efficient, and disaster-resilient homes for rent and sale to lower-income households. Made possible through partnerships with local governments and philanthropic donors, these housing developments are built to withstand future storms, giving families a stronger foundation for the long term.

SBP’s Opportunity Housing program extends beyond New Orleans. In Houston, SBP developed two new mixed-income, affordable rental communities: Tabor Street and Old Spanish Trail. These projects are a continuation of SBP’s long-term commitment to helping disaster-impacted communities rebuild. Since launching recovery programs in Houston after Hurricane Harvey in 2017—and continuing through Hurricane Imelda and Winter Storm Uri—SBP has seen firsthand the shortage of affordable housing options for renters displaced by disasters. These new developments aim to fill that gap by offering high-quality, resilient housing for families working to get back on their feet.

Net-Zero Energy Living That Feels Like Home

The St. Peter features one- and two-bedroom units with energy-efficient refrigerators, ovens, and in-unit washers/dryers. The building is powered by more than 400 rooftop solar panels and supported by a battery storage system in the parking lot, ensuring that residents have power even during outages.

Built in 2019, The St. Peter Apartments has 50 mixed-income units, of which 94 percent are now filled—mostly by low-income residents who have found safe and stable housing.

But for Carolyn, the real value of The St. Peter is the support and sense of belonging she has found.

“I love it here. Everybody’s nice. I’m comfortable. If I need something, they help me. You don’t always find places like this,” she says.

Carolyn often spends time in the building’s community center or at church, and she’s formed a circle of support that helps her stay grounded, even when resources are tight.

Support Services that Build Community

Much of The St. Peter’s community strength is thanks to the support SBP provides—everything from tech support to educational workshops.

“Miss Ashley [SBP’s  Resident Services Manager] helps me with my reading, with my phone—anything I need. She checks on me. Gives me motivation,” Carolyn said.

That sense of connection is no accident. SBP designs programming at The St. Peter to help residents build stability and confidence in every area of life, from budgeting and job readiness to parenting support, healthy living, and after-school activities. Whether it is one-on-one encouragement or a workshop on financial literacy, SBP helps residents access the resources they need so they don’t have to navigate challenges alone.

Closing the Gap in the Missing Middle

SBP’s  St. Peter’s multi-family housing in New Orleans, along with SBP’s Tabor Street and Old Spanish Trail multi-family housing communities in Houston, also address the growing need for “missing middle housing,” a range of residential building types between single-family homes and large apartment complexes that is increasingly rare across the U.S.

As housing prices rise and natural disasters become more frequent, communities need housing that is  affordable, climate-resilient, and rooted in support systems. The St. Peter is proving that small-scale, sustainable housing can meet those needs, and more.

“With The St. Peter, we wanted to build a place where people could truly feel safe, supported, and at home,” said Hope Sherman, Director of SBP’s Opportunity Housing program. “What has been most inspiring is watching how residents have turned this building into a community. Despite the challenges of the past year, they have shown incredible strength and resilience. A stable home is the foundation for everything else, and that is what we hoped to make possible here.”

Carolyn’s journey, from housing uncertainty to stability and community connection, embodies what is possible when communities invest in both resilient infrastructure and human support.

“I love it here,” Carolyn said. “This is where I’m supposed to be.”