The housing office should either refer you to housing at NSA (in Algiers) or put you up at one of their contract hotels. The West Bank Holiday Inn has a shuttle that will drop off and pick up at the Canal Street ferry landing in Algiers Point. The ferry lets you off at the foot of Canal St, next to Harrah's and the Aquarium. 10 minute walk from there to Bourbon St. House of Blues on Royal is worth a stop, and you can check out who's playing at Tipitina's (concert hall) right off Canal St.
There is a restaurant across the street from the ferry landing in Algiers Point called the Drydock I eat at a lot (5 block walk from my house), and an English pub a block further west called the Crown & Anchor that's pretty good too, though it is more of a "have a quiet drink" place than anything else.
New Orleans has a lot of bad neighborhoods, mixed in with the good. Don't go wandering around outside the Quarter without a guide. Also, like any big city, crime can reach out and touch you anywhere. Algiers Point is pretty safe, but occasionally someone will get mugged near the ferry landing, because a lot of folks coming through there have money on them and they've been in the Quarter drinking. Stay in well lit areas, don't get sloppy drunk, keep your SA up and you'll be fine.
One other warning. The last ferry to the West Bank runs at midnight. Miss it and it's a $20+ cab ride back across the bridge. Or you can hang out in the Quarter until 0530, when the ferry starts running again. Your choice...
