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2025 Homes and Heritage Program
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation Launches Home Repair Program for Culture Bearers
New Home Repair Program is designed to assist New Orleans’ culture bearers and to preserve the historic architecture and culture of our city.
New Orleans, LA (April 1, 2025) – The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, in partnership with the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, proudly announces the launch of its Homes and Heritage program, designed to provide transformative home repairs for New Orleans culture bearers, enabling them to safely thrive in place and preserve their homes for future generations. This initiative targets low-to-moderate income homeowners in New Orleans (earning 80% of area median income or less, as defined by HUD standards) who have been identified as vital culture bearers.
Funded by a generous $100,000 donation from the family of Merrilee Kullman, the Foundation seeks to alleviate the challenges faced by culture bearers in maintaining their homes. By facilitating free home repairs, the program aims to ensure that these individuals can continue to reside in their familiar environments while safeguarding their family legacies.
The program will be administered by the Preservation Resource Center and will address critical needs of the community. Eligible repairs may include exterior maintenance and restoration, weatherproofing, roof repairs, termite abatement, and other essential updates that allow residents to maintain their homes without compromising their financial stability.
To qualify for home repairs through the Homes and Heritage Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Own only one property.
- Have a cumulative household income that is 80% AMI or below, in accordance with HUD income guidelines.
- Qualify as a “culture bearer,” as defined by NOJHF staff. This definition includes New Orleans musicians and cultural practitioners who embody and sustain the city’s musical and cultural traditions through performance, education, and community involvement. These individuals serve as ambassadors of our unique culture and actively contribute to its vitality.
- Hold a clean title to their home, with no existing liens or fines associated with the property.
“Our Homes and Heritage Program is a testament to our commitment to preserving the physical spaces that sustain New Orleans’ cultural legacy,” said Blake-Anthony Johnson, CEO of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. “By supporting cultural stewards in the preservation of physical spaces—including their homes—we ensure that live artistry thrives while reinforcing the foundations of a thriving community.”
For more information about the Homes and Heritage Program, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, please contact the Preservation Resource Center at 504.581.7032.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation promotes, preserves, perpetuates, and encourages the music, culture, and heritage of communities in Louisiana through festivals, programs, and other cultural, educational, civic, and economic activities. The Foundation is the nonprofit organization that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell. The Foundation uses the proceeds from Jazz Fest, and other funds, for year-round programs in the areas of education, economic development and cultural events. For more about the Foundation and what we do, visit us online at www.jazzandheritage.org. Connect with us online via Facebook, Youtube, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans (PRC) preserves New Orleans’ historic architecture, neighborhoods and cultural identity through collaboration, empowerment and service to our community. Founded in 1974, PRC is a non-profit organization that has restored more than 1,500 properties citywide and has assisted countless individuals with their own renovation efforts through its programs. PRC provides resources and education to convey the economic, cultural and aesthetic importance of historic architecture in New Orleans and throughout the world. For more information about PRC and its revitalization efforts, call 504.581.7032 or visit www.prcno.org. Connect with PRC on Facebook; Twitter (@PRCNO) and Instagram (@PRCNOLA)
Photo by Chris Granger