A House For Hazel
Community Partners : Hope Coordination Center
Building Partners: Project Rehab
Hazel was born and raised in East Biloxi. She inherited her mother’s home when she passed, 19 years before Hurricane Katrina made landfall and completely destroyed the home. After doing some preliminary site work, it was obvious that the property where Hazel grew up would be very difficult to build upon, as the new house would need to be elevated 15’-0” above grade (making it the tallest house designed by the GCCDS). Additionally, a respiratory illness was taking a toll on Hazel; she would need a ramp or an elevator, both of which are extremely expensive.
With help from the Hope Coordination Center and the City of Biloxi, Hazel was able to sell her property at a fair market price to the city and purchase a new lot in an area of the peninsula that is on higher ground (and also more shaded and private). The new property still requires elevating the house, but only 6 feet, which is able to easily accommodate an accessible ramp. The house has been designed to accommodate Hazel, her adult daughter, and her cat.
The design of the house is intended for inexpensive, quick construction using conventional framing methods. Covered front and back porches shade the entire house and provide two outdoor spaces to compliment the small interior floor plan.
Through the hard work of volunteers from Project Rehab and the Hope Coordination Center, the house was completed in November of 2008. Sadly, Ms. Hazel passed away just as the house was finished. Her daughter Crystal has moved in and looks forward to living in the house until she can pass it on to her children in the future.
