NEW ORLEANS–The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Louisiana Recovery Authority has announced a rental assistance program that will provide temporary rental payments and case management
NEW ORLEANS–The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Louisiana Recovery Authority has announced a rental assistance program that will provide temporary rental payments and case management services to help thousands of families who were displaced by Hurricane Ike. The program, HUD Secretary Steven Preston and FEMA Deputy Administrator Harvey E. Johnson announced in Houston, is slated to begin Nov. 1, to help these families find intermediate housing as they rebuild their lives.
“Hurricane Ike caused a tremendous amount of human suffering in terms of families being dislocated from the security of their homes,’’ said Milan Ozdinec, HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing and Voucher Programs. "Together with our partners on the federal, state and local levels, we will do everything we can to help the people of Louisiana rebuild and get through these difficult times.’’
“Louisiana families displaced by Hurricane Ike can expect the same level of commitment that FEMA and HUD have provided following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We’re dedicated to helping the state achieve its recovery plans and meeting the housing needs of its citizens,’’ said FEMA Assistant Administrator for Gulf Coast Recovery Jim Stark.
“We will work with our federal partners to identify rental resources, especially in hard-hit rural areas, for our Louisiana families as they continue recovering from Hurricane Ike,’’ said LRA Executive Director Paul Rainwater. “We learned after Katrina and Rita that we need a case management-driven process to assist our residents in finding safe, sustainable housing. The launch of this program is the first step in that process, and the state will continue to work with HUD and FEMA to take care of those displaced by Hurricane Gustav.’’
The Disaster Housing Assistance Program-IKE mirrors the successful program that housed families following the 2005 hurricanes, which continues to support 30,000 families.
The program will be executed through an interagency agreement between FEMA and HUD. FEMA will determine the families that qualify for assistance.
HUD, working with an extensive network of public housing agencies that already administer the DHAP program for families displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita and HUD’s regular rental assistance program, will oversee and manage the program.
Initially, HUD will provide full rental assistance to approved families.
Beginning May 1, 2009, families will be responsible for paying $50 per month.
Every month thereafter, the family’s portion of the rent will increase in increments of $50 until the program ends in March 2010.
Special to the NNPA from the Louisiana Weekly
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