Since Hurricane Katrina emptied New Orleans of its residents, a battle has been waged over the future of the city.
The struggle over what the "New" New Orleans will look like and who will return to live here largely depends on the future of the city's public housing developments - and this week is a crucial showdown in that fight.
The City began demolitions last Wednesday which, if completed, will destroy 4500 units of public housing, making way for "mixed income" neighborhoods with only 800 units of public housing - an 82% reduction in size.
41 000 affordable rental units were destroyed by hurricane katrina and the city is facing an acute housing shortage. Rents have almost doubled since before the storm - but HUD - the Federal Housing Authority - is pressing ahead with the demolition.
50% of families who want to, but are unable to return to New Orleans make less than $20,000 a year. . . watching the demolition of part of their Housing Development from across the street, residents believe that the city does not want them back