Barker Homes President Carol Barker had a simple mission after Hurricane Katrina: Get people back in homes.  To achieve her goal, Barker Homes designed their flagship model, the T-130, which can withstand hurricane-force winds and be elevated from 3 to 9 feet to avoid flooding. The T-130s also have a solid-steel foundation system that is termite resistant.

Barker said the T-130 is not a modular home, even though it can be built quickly. Modular homes are shipped from a factory or warehouse in pieces and assembled at the site, while a Barker home is built entirely on site.  A home with an elevation of 3 feet can be built in 11 weeks. Customers can visit the Arabi offices and make selections on a computer at the office.  Barker then can give people an estimate on how much the home will cost and how long it will take to build.

“When you get the keys to your house, everything but your furniture will be in your home,” Barker said. “We have the process really streamlined.”

Because the homes are similarly designed, Barker Homes can buy materials such as doors, cabinets and archways in bulk. Additionally, the construction process is more efficient because Barker Homes employs contractors who work exclusively for them and therefore aren’t tied up on other projects.

Even though the homes are similar in design, Barker said the company tries to provide an intimate feel. All the homes have porches and a complimentary porch swing, accessories Barker remembers fondly from her own childhood in New Orleans.

Barker’s ties to the community also influence her interactions with the customers.

“We really care about the community and have committed ourselves to bringing the community back,” Barker said. “A lot of people are scared and don’t know what to do. We try to help them through the process,” Barker said, adding that the company walks clients through the entire process and provides regular updates throughout the construction period.

For Patricia Phoenix, whose Barker Home will be completed in Violet at the beginning of October,

"Barker Homes has been a godsend.  Everything’s been going along great,” Phoenix said.