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The history of public housing in New Orleans is complex, marked by economic and social challenges while providing much-needed housing and a sense of community for this city’s poverty-stricken. With the passage of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, the federal government began funding the construction and operations of housing for low-income households. The first Public Housing development was constructed shortly thereafter, in the 1940’s, in a manner similar to the government-funded communities of that era. Notably, they were built as low-rise red brick structures in superblock configurations. While attractive in its day, by the 1970s, public housing in New Orleans had deteriorated to the point where units were no longer habitable under basic living standards.

In the early 1990s, HUD introduced the HOPE VI grant program that funded the redevelopment of distressed public housing sites into traditionally designed neighborhoods for a variety of income groups. This model encouraged higher quality construction, and the design of street patterns that would integrate the site into the fabric of the surrounding neighborhood. HANO and other housing authorities across the country contracted private developers and property managers to enhance the long-term viability of these new communities. Since the late 1990s, HANO has redeveloped several of its public housing sites under this model.

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Much of HANO’s housing stock was destroyed in 2005 as a result of Hurricane Katrina. After assessing the damage, HANO undertook a massive redevelopment program to replace and modernize its housing communities. With cost estimates exceeding $1 billion to merely renovate the 1940’s-era buildings, HUD authorized funding for the total demolition and development of the four main public housing sites - Lafitte, St. Bernard, B.W. Cooper and C.J. Peete (known as “the Big Four”)- along with the continuation of previously started redevelopment activities at Desire, Fischer, St. Thomas and Guste. In 2011 HANO in partnership with the City of New Orleans was awarded a $30.5 million HUD Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) grant to transform the Iberville Public Housing Development while preserving a percentage of its original buildings. The grant also included the provision of enhanced supportive services to its residents and the addition of commercial retail within the community.

HANO’s overall portfolio is comprised of ten large-scale housing communities as well as scattered site properties dispersed throughout the city. HANO’s communities include The Estates [formerly Desire], New Florida, River Garden [formerly St. Thomas], William J. Fischer, Harmony Oaks [formerly C.J. Peete], Marrero Commons [formerly B.W. Cooper], Guste Homes, Columbia Parc [formerly St. Bernard], Bienville Basin [formerly Iberville], and Faubourg Lafitte.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP), that provides Section 8 vouchers to eligible families, currently administers more than 18,000 tenant and project-based vouchers.

Capital Fund Program
- Five-Year Action Plan

Approval Date: 08/22/2022

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Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan

Effective September 1, 2023
(HUD Approved May 25, 2023)

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Executive Director

Contact

Marjorianna Willman

Executive Director

mwillman@hano.org

(504) 670-3300

The Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) Board of Commissioners has proudly selected Marjorianna Willman to serve as the next Executive Director for the federally funded agency. The decision was unanimously made during the HANO Board of Commissioners meeting held on January 13^th.

Willman comes to the Housing Authority of New Orleans from the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) where she served as Executive Director and previously Chief Operating and Legal Officer. Her oversight included leading a staff of over 150 employees focused on increasing and creating affordable, safe, and energy-efficient housing across Louisiana. Her areas of expertise include creating policy, community development, and delivering impactful programs benefiting Louisiana’s citizens. The veteran leader served in New Orleans as the Director of the Office of Housing Policy and Community Development. Under her tenure, she led the city to be named one of the seven High Performing Grantees by the U.S. Department of Treasury. She is also known for creating an eviction diversion program in partnership with the local courts that received the 2021 Innovation Award from the Louisiana Bar Association. Willman’s decades of experience working in the affordable housing industry includes the administration of federal, state, and local funding for housing development, disaster recovery, rental assistance, supportive services, and homelessness solutions.

“Ms. Willman’s education, experience, and leadership made her the best candidate for this position,” said Percy Manson, President of the HANO Board of Commissioners. “Her passion and knowledge of affordable housing exceeded the expectations for HANO’s next Executive Director. Her proven track record gives me the confidence that she will work hard to elevate the housing needs of our residents and the city of New Orleans while following the guidelines of HUD.”

“I am exhilarated for this opportunity to make an impact in delivering affordable housing in the city that I love,” stated Marjorianna Willman. “Working together with community, federal, state, and local partners, a team of dedicated HANO professionals, and other stakeholders, HANO will quickly become a high-performing model agency,” added Willman.

Paul Irons, Principal of New Orleans Restoration Properties stated, “Having worked with Marjorianna in multiple professional capacities, I've witnessed firsthand her exceptional professionalism, fairness, solution-oriented approach, and unwavering commitment to both the development community and the residents we serve. Marjorianna's deep understanding of both the business and development aspects of housing makes her an ideal leader for fostering the vital public-private partnerships essential for our city's growth."

Ms. Willman is a licensed attorney. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University and a Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center. She also earned a certificate in Executive Education Leading in an Era of Complexity from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. Ms. Willman was featured as a Legal Leader in the Spring 2023 issue of Affordable Housing News. She will assume her new position as Executive Director on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.