US Gulf Coast Recovery Background

Why care about the recovery of the US Gulf Coast?

The BP oil disaster, which began with the explosion at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig and tragically cost 11 workers their lives, occurred nearly five years after Hurricane Katrina swept across the region, leaving a trail of destroyed homes and devastated livelihoods in its wake.

What we’re doing

Oxfam is committed to increasing community resiliency along the coast and ensuring that residents of the region are well equipped to continue the Katrina and BP oil spill recovery, and build their communities back stronger than before.

Oxfam's immediate response to the hurricanes grew quickly into a five-year, $12 million program in Mississippi and Louisiana, focusing on safe and affordable housing as well as worker and immigrant rights. The program is combining financial support to key partner organizations with on-the-ground technical support as it focus on addressing long standing regional issues including coastal restoration and economic development based on green jobs.

In the years since the storm Oxfam has focused on the coastal regions of Mississippi and Louisiana, working with more than 50 Gulf Coast organizations, and strengthened their ability not only to advocate for low-income and vulnerable groups, but to mobilize communities to advocate for themselves. Oxfam has played key roles in starting important new organizations, strengthening the capacity of existing groups, forging effective networks and coalitions, developing strong leaders, and building a grassroots advocacy movement on the Gulf Coast that did not exist before Hurricane Katrina. 

Oxfam's partners in the Gulf Coast are rebuilding homes; enforcing worker rights; and providing specialized case management, disaster risk reduction, community organizing, and state and federal advocacy efforts. With our partners' support, thousands of homes have been gutted for rebuilding or have been repaired. On six occasions, Oxfam partners have testified to the US Congress about the recovery.

In addition, by providing financial, organizational, and technical support, Oxfam has supported local leaders in forming seven new organizations: Hope Coordination Center, Coastal Women for Change, Zion Travelers Cooperative Center, Steps Coalition, Bayou Grace Community Services, New Orleans Workers' Center for Racial Justice, and Puentes New Orleans Inc. Oxfam America co-founded and served as co-chair of the Gulf Coast Funders for Equity, a collaborative effort of grant makers in the Gulf Coast region.