Council Member Leslie Harris- "We don't want to become Venice, overrun with tourists only"

The population of New Orleans has never rebounded after Katrina, and as far as growth overall in the south, the state of Louisiana has seen decline when surrounding states have seen growth.

Add all that to the price of housing and one might come to the conclusion that, soon, New Orleans won't actually have New Orleanians in it, but rather literally become a tourist town.

Council member Leslie Harris says there is something the city can do. She is proposing a Housing Trust Fund.

"Rent and home prices skyrocketed between 2020 and 2023. We could help our neighbor or ensure homeownership for kids with this change."

Harris says she is asking for two percent of the city's general budget be set aside for the trust and hopes for private sector contributions.

The trust would help pay for housing, transportation, and child care

The coucilwoman wants to be clear this isn't a tax that would effect the pockets of those living in New Orleans."

"We would allocate about seventeen million dollars to the fund from the city's general budget. We already fund offices and other initiatives this way."

Residents will see the initiative on the November ballot.