Housing Aid Extended for Gulf Coast Hurricane Evacuees

rhino17 · Apr 26, 2007

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4751370.html

April 26, 2007, 3:51PM
Housing aid extended for Gulf Coast hurricane evacuees

By MIKE SNYDER
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
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Federal housing assistance for more than 120,000 families displaced by Gulf Coast hurricanes in 2005 will continue through March 1, 2009, officials announced today.

Beneficiaries of the extension include about 34,000 families in apartments, including about 14,000 in the Houston area, and 88,000 families in mobile homes and travel trailers, mostly in Louisiana and Mississippi.

On Sept. 1, the Department of Housing and Urban Development will take over management of evacuee housing assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the officials said. Advocates for evacuees have long advocated this change.

"The fact is that we're not in the long-term housing business," FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison said.

Prior to today's announcement, evacuee housing assistance was scheduled to end Aug. 31. HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson said the extension would cost more than $1 billion, all of which is available through previous appropriations to FEMA.

Starting March 1, 2008, they said, evacuees receiving assistance will be required to make small monthly payments, starting at $50 per month and increasing to $100 monthly in June 2008.

Jackson said more than 800,000 families were displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in August and September 2005. Most are rebuilding their lives and have regained self-sufficiency, he said, but thousands of families still need help.

"We believe that this is the best approach that we can take" to provide the needed assistance in a responsible way, Jackson said.

Leaders of the two federal agencies will consult with congressional leaders to develop the most effective structure for the extended housing assistance program, Jackson and Paulison said.

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Refman · Apr 27, 2007

4 years seems like a long time to pay for their housing. Now that HUD has control over it, I wonder what the rationalization will be in 2009 for extending it some more.

Sishir Chang · Apr 27, 2007

Wasn't this reported about a month ago already?

weslinder · Apr 27, 2007

Sishir Chang said:

Wasn't this reported about a month ago already?
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There were inter-agency disputes then. HUD is taking it over.

Refman · Apr 28, 2007

weslinder said:

There were inter-agency disputes then. HUD is taking it over.
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Which of course means that it will be run efficiently and will not at all become an entitlement program.

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