Big Easy Deal

What is the Big Easy Deal?

The Big Easy Deal is a set of comprehensive investments for the New Orleans budget designed to help communities across the city thrive, instead of fighting to survive. Everyone in New Orleans deserves to feel safe. But instead, our people are struggling: it’s harder than ever to find affordable housing, quality food, decent wages, support for our families, and a sense of safety in our communities.

The Big Easy Deal would invest $125.5 million into the people of New Orleans: $100 million in affordable housing, $18 million in youth services, $4 million in food security, and $3.5 million in violence prevention. Our city needs effective, community-driven, evidence-based strategies in order to thrive and break the cycles of poverty and violence in New Orleans. We’re asking our local government to commit to the Big Easy Deal and fix our problems at the root.

What’s behind these investments?

Between May and August 2024, the Big Easy Budget Coalition surveyed Orleans Parish residents to understand their perceptions of safety and city spending. We reached more than 400 residents by attending 20+ community events and meetings; posting flyers in libraries, post offices, recreation centers and bus stops; tabling at back-to-school events, community meetings, and community resource fairs across the city; and conducting email and social media outreach.

Among their top priorities for city investments are education, safe and affordable housing for all residents, opportunities for youth, and mental health services. When it comes to community safety, New Orleanians’ top priorities are prevention through early intervention, skills and employment training, and treatment.

Building Safe, Thriving Communities the New Orleans Way

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