New Orleans was founded in 1718. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the US. It is best known for its Bohemian Charm, Steamboat Cruises, Bourbon Street fun, Old-world architecture, and Century-old restaurants.

What will you find on the streets in New Orleans?

On the streets you will find diverse culture, beautiful architecture, live music, Cajun & Creole Cuisine, Hot dog stands, round the clock partying, fortune tellers, Art work for sale, souvenir shops, voodoo dolls, shoe shiners, plenty of homeless people and many others offering their talents and or services for donations.

Why are there so many homeless:

In every city around the world, there are people living without a home to call their own. The situation is a crisis. Homelessness is caused by a wide variety of factors and every person’s situation is different. When we think about the ways in which we could potentially end homelessness, we need to think about the needs of each different person. Hurricane Katrina left many in New Orleans homeless. Some may say they blame it on the city’s lack of affordable housing as they deal with huge rent increases, while the median income has declined.

In 2019, 1188 were found to be homeless. That fell from the 11,600 in 2007. In 2011 there were over 6500 people still homeless. In 2011 the city released a 10-year plan to end homelessness. By following this plan, the number of homeless has been lowered by 90%. New Orleans has a rate of 302 people who are homeless for every 100,000 residents which is much lower than many cities across the country. You will find the homeless in the main French quarter area. Some will be in pop up tents by the interstate exchange and some behind boxes in the alleys. You will find some are mentally ill who have little support, war veterans and some who just do not have jobs and cannot afford the housing.

Why Photograph the Streets of New Orleans?

I recently visited New Orleans for the first time in my life. The part that interested me the most was the number of different things to photograph on the streets. It was a photographer’s dream! The French Quarter offers a unique sense of colors, beautiful architecture, artist on the streets, plenty of diverse people, great food and many more beautiful things that overwhelmed my senses. I LOVE people photography, and this was the place to be for it!