Operation HOPE has been active in the greater New Orleans area since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The New Orleans office has assisted more than 135,000 individuals and small businesses with small business coaching, homeowners’ recovery services, personal finance counseling, and BP claims applications.

Since Hurricane Katrina, a converging of economic forces such as increased rent prices, unemployment rates and insurance costs have made it extremely challenging for the lower income populations to establish themselves financially. The effects of the national recession and the BP Oil Spill on the local tourism and seafood industries have only made it more difficult for individuals and small businesses alike. 

The current environment makes financial literacy, entrepreneurial coaching, and the knowledge of how to “make your money work for you” essential to economic growth in the region.