Equitable Development & Housing Affordability Volunteer Opportunities
As New Orleans faces increasing housing costs and development pressures, many organizations are working to ensure that growth benefits all residents. Here's a comprehensive guide to volunteer opportunities focused on equitable development and housing affordability:
Housing Advocacy Organizations
Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance (GNOHA)
- Volunteer Activities: Policy research, community outreach, event support, campaign assistance
- Time Commitment: Flexible options from one-time events to ongoing committee work
- Skills Needed: Various roles for all skill levels; policy, communications, or organizing experience helpful
- How to Join: Contact their volunteer coordinator
- Contact: gnoha.org/main/volunteer or call (504) 224-8300
HousingNOLA
- Volunteer Activities: Community outreach, data collection, meeting facilitation
- Time Commitment: Monthly volunteer opportunities and special events
- Skills Needed: No special skills required for most activities
- How to Join: Sign up through GNOHA
- Contact: housingnola.org
Put Housing First Coalition
- Volunteer Activities: Advocacy campaigns, voter education, public testimony, phonebanking
- Time Commitment: Campaign-based involvement, increasing during election seasons
- Skills Needed: Comfort with community engagement; training provided
- How to Join: Contact through GNOHA
- Contact: puthousingfirst.org
Community Land Trusts & Housing Development
Crescent City Community Land Trust
- Volunteer Activities: Property maintenance, community outreach, professional services
- Time Commitment: Monthly volunteer days and special projects
- Skills Needed: Various skills welcome; construction, landscaping, or real estate knowledge especially valuable
- How to Join: Email volunteer@ccclt.org
- Contact: ccclt.org/volunteer
Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative
- Volunteer Activities: Tenant organizing, policy research, community events
- Time Commitment: Regular committee meetings or event-based volunteering
- Skills Needed: Interest in housing justice; organizing experience helpful but not required
- How to Join: Attend a monthly volunteer orientation
- Contact: jpnsi.org/volunteer
Tenant Rights & Support
New Orleans Renters Rights Assembly
- Volunteer Activities: Tenant organizing, eviction defense, know-your-rights workshops
- Time Commitment: Weekly meetings plus action-based involvement
- Skills Needed: Commitment to housing justice; legal background helpful for some roles
- How to Join: Attend a general meeting (first Monday of month)
- Contact: facebook.com/NewOrleansRentersRightsAssembly
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Housing Unit
- Volunteer Activities: Administrative support, client intake, legal research (attorneys)
- Time Commitment: Regular weekly shifts or project-based assistance
- Skills Needed: Legal training required for some roles; administrative volunteers also needed
- How to Join: Complete volunteer application on website
- Contact: slls.org/volunteer
Eviction Defense Network
- Volunteer Activities: Court monitoring, tenant support, document preparation
- Time Commitment: Court day volunteers (Thursdays) or as-needed basis
- Skills Needed: Training provided; legal background helpful but not required for all roles
- How to Join: Attend a training session
- Contact: SLLS Housing Unit: (504) 529-1000
Homeownership Access & Support
Neighborhood Development Foundation
- Volunteer Activities: Homebuyer education, financial literacy workshops, event support
- Time Commitment: Flexible based on program needs
- Skills Needed: Financial or real estate knowledge helpful for some roles
- How to Join: Complete volunteer application online
- Contact: ndf-neworleans.org/volunteer
Lower 9th Ward Homeownership Association
- Volunteer Activities: Community outreach, case management support, office assistance
- Time Commitment: Regular weekly shifts or special projects
- Skills Needed: Various opportunities for different skill sets
- How to Join: Contact directly
- Contact: l9wha.org/volunteer
Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative
- Volunteer Activities: Construction, homebuyer support, neighborhood revitalization
- Time Commitment: Regular volunteer days and special projects
- Skills Needed: Construction skills helpful but not required
- How to Join: Sign up through their website
- Contact: jerichohousing.org/volunteer
Policy Research & Advocacy
The Data Center
- Volunteer Activities: Data collection, research assistance, report production
- Time Commitment: Project-based commitment
- Skills Needed: Research, data analysis, or graphic design skills
- How to Join: Contact through their website
- Contact: datacenterresearch.org
Fair Housing Action Center
- Volunteer Activities: Fair housing testing, research, education events
- Time Commitment: Training plus regular involvement
- Skills Needed: Detail-oriented; training provided
- How to Join: Contact volunteer coordinator
- Contact: lafairhousing.org/volunteer
Louisiana Fair Housing Alliance
- Volunteer Activities: Policy research, community education, advocacy campaigns
- Time Commitment: Committee-based involvement
- Skills Needed: Interest in housing policy; legal or policy background helpful
- How to Join: Email info@lafairhousingalliance.org
- Contact: lafairhousingalliance.org
Neighborhood Planning & Development
Neighborhood Partnership Network
- Volunteer Activities: Facilitate neighborhood meetings, build organizational capacity, support community planning
- Time Commitment: Monthly commitments or project-based involvement
- Skills Needed: Facilitation, organizational development, planning knowledge helpful
- How to Join: Complete volunteer interest form
- Contact: npnnola.org/volunteer
Foundation for Louisiana
- Volunteer Activities: LEAD program support, community climate planning assistance
- Time Commitment: Program-based commitment
- Skills Needed: Planning, community development, climate adaptation knowledge helpful
- How to Join: Contact program directors
- Contact: foundationforlouisiana.org
Broad Community Connections
- Volunteer Activities: Commercial corridor revitalization, community events, fresh food access
- Time Commitment: Regular volunteer days and special events
- Skills Needed: Various roles for all skill levels
- How to Join: Email info@broadcommunityconnections.org
- Contact: broadcommunityconnections.org
Special Skills Volunteering
Attorneys for Affordable Housing Development
- Volunteer Activities: Legal assistance for affordable housing developers and residents
- Time Commitment: Case-by-case basis
- Skills Needed: Legal background required
- How to Join: Contact through Louisiana Appleseed
- Contact: louisiana.appleseed.org
Architects for Equitable Housing
- Volunteer Activities: Design assistance, building assessments, accessibility planning
- Time Commitment: Project-based commitment
- Skills Needed: Architecture or design background
- How to Join: Contact through AIA New Orleans
- Contact: aianeworleans.org/outreach
Technology for Housing Justice
- Volunteer Activities: Database development, website creation, digital tools for housing advocacy
- Time Commitment: Project-based commitment
- Skills Needed: Technology, programming, or design skills
- How to Join: Contact through GNOHA
- Contact: gnoha.org/main/volunteer
How to Get Started
Clarify your interests: Do you prefer direct service, policy advocacy, organizing, or behind-the-scenes support?
Consider your skills: Organizations need diverse talents from construction to legal knowledge to community organizing.
Start with an event: Many organizations hold public events where you can learn more before making a longer commitment.
Connect with your neighborhood: Consider starting with housing initiatives in your own community.
Recognize the long-term nature of the work: Housing affordability challenges require sustained engagement rather than one-time volunteering.
By volunteering with these organizations, you'll help build a more equitable New Orleans where development benefits all residents and housing remains affordable for everyone. Your involvement can help ensure that the city maintains its unique character and cultural diversity while creating opportunities for all community members to thrive.
On this page
- Equitable Development & Housing Affordability Volunteer Opportunities
- Housing Advocacy Organizations
- Community Land Trusts & Housing Development
- Tenant Rights & Support
- Homeownership Access & Support
- Policy Research & Advocacy
- Neighborhood Planning & Development
- Special Skills Volunteering
- How to Get Started