Community Profile

Biloxi, Mississippi

Biloxi is a small town located in the southern tip of Mississippi. It has become a “new home” for thousands of Vietnamese refugees and immigrants who have resettled in the area since 1975.  Its climate and geographical characteristics along with the local fishing industry comprise its main attractions.  

According to recent survey, there are a little less than 7,000 Vietnamese individuals living in Biloxi and the surrounding areas.  The population experienced a significant decline in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as many community members were evacuated or displaced, and have since resettled in different states. Vietnamese communities in Biloxi and the surrounding areas are historically underserved.  They are isolated from American mainstream life, including many government services, due to cultural and linguistic barriers, including limited English proficiency, limited literacy, and lack of familiarity with US systems of government and social services.      

BPSOS Biloxi was established in February 2006, just months after Hurricane Katrina dealt a devastating blow to the Gulf Coast. The infamous hurricane left approximately 60,000 homes damaged or destroyed, devastated the area’s economically vital fleet of shrimp boats, and shattered the livelihoods of countless residents. Realizing the urgent need for effective communication as well as vital life support and life rebuilding services, BPSOS immediately mobilized to provide relief and recovery assistance. Our initial services included assistance with FEMA registration and appeal process, healthcare, translation and interpretation services, advice on legal issues and insurance claims, and financial assistance for home and shrimp-boat repair via the Long term Recovery Committee. 

Today, individuals and families in Biloxi and the surrounding areas are still recovering. BPSOS-Biloxi is working with many families to find sustainable housing as they transition out of their temporary homes. We have also begun to focus on providing services that address pre-existing problems that were exacerbated by the hurricane, such as assistance with economic development and services for victims of violence. BPSOS-Biloxi’s programs help underserved Vietnamese individuals and families overcome barriers to information and services through culturally and linguistically competent case management, community outreach and individual and peer support.

Bayou La Batre, Alabama

The town of Bayou La Batre and its surrounding areas, a shrimping community at the southern tip of Mobile County, Alabama, was once titled the “seafood capital” of Alabama. Yet, this area was little known outside the state until it was featured as the hometown of “Forest Gump.” 

On August 29, 2005 the entire area was ravaged by the 10-feet surge induced by Hurricane Katrina. In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane BPSOS established operation in Bayou La Batre to provide emergency relief. 

Mobilizing support from across its national network of branch offices, on October 1, 2005 BPSOS opened its emergency relief center in Bayou La Batre. A few months later, BPSOS deployed a team of case managers that speak English, Vietnamese, Khmer and Laotian to connect the local population, including Indochinese refugees and immigrants, to services and benefits offered by the federal government (e.g., FEMA and SBA) and mainstream emergency service providers (American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and Volunteers of America). 

The local population, consisting of 3,500 residents in the town of Bayou La Batre and its surrounding areas, forms a distressed community, where unemployment rate is 11.1% and poverty rate is 28.2%, significantly higher than the national averages (8.6% and 12.5% respectively) state averages (9.8% and 14.5%), and county averages (8.5% and 20.8%). Moreover, many of the residents considered employed are employed in seasonal shrimping and seafood industry jobs and are not consistently employed full-time.

Before Hurricane Katrina the local population had already faced economic hardship due to the impacts of fierce foreign competition and rising fuel costs on the struggling shrimping and seafood industries. With a high rate of school drop-out, community residents are ill equipped to cope with challenging times. Among residents of Bayou La Batre prior to Hurricane Katrina, 15.8% speak English less than very well (1.5% statewide); 48.8% of 16 to 19 year olds are not in high school and are without a high school diploma (12% statewide); 24% have less than a 9th grade education (8.3% statewide); and only 4.7% have a BA degree or higher (21.8% statewide). We anticipate that Census 2010 statistics will show further deterioration among the community, including higher drop out rates, lower educational attainment and increased levels of limited English proficiency, all direct effects of Hurricane Katrina and the economic downturn. The prevalence of domestic violence, crime, substance abuse and gambling have added to the disruption of familial and communal lives.