Mississippi Development Authority
Small
Rental Assistance Program
CDBG
Disaster Recovery Action Plan
Owners Assistance
Program/Small Rental Plan
Bill would help with hurricane
rebuilding
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
By SEAN REILLY
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- Alabama, Mississippi
and Texas would become eligible for
more hurricane-related rebuilding
money under a plan by U.S. Sen. Mary
Landrieu, D-La., aimed at
jump-starting a housing bill stuck
in a congressional committee for
eight months.
Under her blueprint, the three
states could potentially tap the
federal treasury for programs "to
rebuild, repair, or develop
affordable housing" in areas covered
by federal disaster declarations
resulting from Hurricanes Katrina
and Rita, which struck the Gulf
Coast in 2005.
The proposal is of keen interest to
some south Mobile County residents
frustrated by what they see as
official indifference to the needs
of unincorporated areas walloped by
Katrina.
In September, a handful traveled to
Washington, D.C., to take their case
directly to U.S. Sen. Richard
Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, and other
lawmakers.
Since then, "nothing has been
delivered at all except lip
service," Jim Fuller, a Coden
resident who is president of South
Bay Communities Alliance, said
Tuesday.
Landrieu's proposal would only
authorize federal spending for the
three states and does not include a
dollar figure.
Landrieu spokesman Adam Sharp
suggested that it would up to
Shelby, the top Republican on the
Senate banking committee, to name a
specific number.
Jonathan Graffeo, a Shelby spokesman
on banking issues, had no immediate
comment Tuesday on the plan. Last
September, Shelby did not endorse
the pleas of residents for several
hundred million dollars targeted to
south Mobile County.
Landrieu had outlined her proposal
in a Thursday letter to Shelby and
banking committee Chairman
Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. A Dodd
spokeswoman also had no comment
Tuesday.
The additional money for other Gulf
Coast states was among a number of
changes that Landrieu recommended
for the housing bill, which has been
awaiting banking committee action
since June. Sharp attributed the
hold-up to objections from U.S. Sen.
David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican
who has said the bill would continue
failed public housing policies in
New Orleans.
In a Tuesday statement, Vitter
spokesman Joel DiGrado said the
senator "looks forward to reviewing
these proposed changes as this is
his first time receiving them."
© 2008 Press-Register. All
rights reserved
AMNESTY
FOR PRISONERS OF KATRINA
For some
people, the aftermath of the hurricanes continues to disrupt
lives.
Are you
looking for an opportunity to make your community a better place
to live? Volunteer opportunities are still available in the Gulf
Coast Area.
If
you like working with people and want to join the important work
AARP Foundation is doing to restore hope to those recovering
from the hurricanes, we want to hear from you!
As a volunteer with Partners for Independence,
you can make a difference in the lives of persons 50+ who were
affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
·
Volunteer
opportunities and schedules can be flexible.
·
Use your interests
and skills or develop new ones.
·
Meet new people in
your community.
Services can include:
·
Home repair
·
Home
modification
·
Independent living services, such as transportation, light
housekeeping, etc.
·
Income tax
preparation
Interested?
For more information about
Partners for Independence, contact:
Dita Kavyas McCarthy
Phone: 228.435.7670
Fax: 228.435.7285
E-mail:
dmccarthy@aarp.org
Address: 974 Division Street
Biloxi, MS 39530
Partners for Independence is made
possible through the joint efforts of AARP Foundation and
·
Rebuilding Together
Faith In Action, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation
Phase II - Housing Needs Assistance Program
Homeowner Assistance Call Center
For questions call:
Toll-Free: 866-369-6302
Jackson area: 601-576-5700
Phase II - Housing Needs Assistance Program -
Overview
Mississippi Development Authority is moving forward with
applications for the
Katrina Homeowner Grant program that was authorized by the
federal government and approved by the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development. As Phase I of this program
concludes, Governor Haley Barbour has announced that Phase II
has been approved by HUD. A copy of the Revised Phase II Action
Plan can be viewed by
clicking here. This Phase II is a housing needs program to
provide compensation and advisory services to homeowners, who
suffered storm surge damage to their primary residence as of
August 29, 2005, from Hurricane Katrina. The amount of
compensation will be up to a maximum of $100,000. Assistance
will be available for homeowners who wish to repair, rebuild, or
relocate.
Under this new program, homeowners may receive funding up to
a maximum of $100,000 to fill the gap between the cost to
rebuild/repair and the homeowner's ability to pay. In addition,
an elevation grant of up to $30,000 may be offered to eligible
applicants who meet program requirements.
Guidelines
Homeowners who fit the following guidelines are asked to
register for Phase II:
- You owned and occupied your home as your primary residence
on August 29, 2005
- Your home was located in Harrison, Hancock, Jackson or
Pearl River Counties
- Your home received flood surge damage as a result of
Hurricane Katrina
- Your household income is at or below 120% of the Area
Median Income (AMI)
Homeowners receiving Phase II assistance will be required to
demonstrate the commitment to follow through on certain actions
in exchange for compensation. They must sign a legally binding
document, which provides for the following:
- Homeowner will maintain recommended structure and flood
insurance.
- The home they own and occupy meets the applicable building
codes and local ordinances.
- When rebuilding, the home they own and occupy complies
with FEMA guidance for base flood elevations.
- If the home is manufactured housing, it will comply with
HUD's manufactured housing code and be elevated in accordance
with FEMA advisory flood levels.
- Any homeowner that fails to meet all of these terms and
conditions may be required to repay all or a prorated portion
of the financial assistance provided through this program.
Special Needs
Grant awards for homeowners who meet the criteria for special
needs will be calculated at 100% of the Uncompensated Damage.
Those who meet the following criteria may be eligible for
special needs assistance:
- Elderly – Age 65 or over as of grant closing date.
OR
- Disabled – any person who has a physical or mental
impairment that substantially limits one of more major life
activities; has a record of such impairment; or is regarded as
having such an impairment as defined by the Social Security
Administration.
OR
- Household income at or below 60% of AMI.
Elevation Grants
Eligible homeowners may also receive a separate grant of up to
$30,000 to defray the costs of elevating their homes. This grant
would be made available to homeowners who meet the eligibility
and program requirements.
Homeowners, who had flood insurance at the time of the flood
and are eligible for assistance from the National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP), are not eligible to receive the
$30,000, as they should receive a like amount directly from NFIP.
The grant is for the increased costs of building to the new
height regulations. Each property may be subject to an
environmental review.
How to Register: where to go & what to bring
At the Service Center, applicants are asked to provide the
following information and documents (bring these with you):
Contact information
Your phone number and the address where the damage occurred and
information on other ways MDA can contact you. It is very
important that you provide MDA with your current mailing address
and phone numbers.
Government-issued photo identification
(Bring to Service Center)
Your driver's license or government-issued photo ID.
Citizenship credentials (Bring to Service
Center)
Information regarding your citizenship status. If you are not a
US citizen, you will be asked to provide documentation proving
your legal immigration status, such as a Visa or Alien
Registration Card ("Green Card").
Social Security Number
2005 W-2 Wages (Bring to Service Center)
Projected 2006 household income (Bring to
Service Center)
Your family's projected total gross household income for January
1, 2006 to December 31, 2006. To support your projection, please
bring your latest federal tax return or pay stubs showing your
current income.
Ownership/acquisition deed (Bring to Service
Center)
The name(s) listed on the Ownership/Acquisition Deed on your
home, if different from your current name. If your home is a
mobile home, you will need to provide the name(s) listed on the
title, plus deed to the lot. If you cannot locate these
documents, you may still apply.
Pre-storm insurance policy, if any (Bring to
Service Center)
The type(s) of insurance coverage you had, if any, including
name(s) of insurer(s), policy number(s), insured value and
amount of any claim(s) paid and/or pending.
Proof of Loss Statement from insurer, if any
(Bring to Service Center)
Pre-storm flood insurance policy, if any
(Bring to Service Center)
Litigation information
Information about any pending or anticipated litigation with
your insurance company.
Mortgage information (Bring to Service
Center)
The name of your mortgage lender(s), loan number(s) and
remaining balance(s), if any, on all mortgage(s), home equity
line(s) of credit or other lien(s) on your home.
SBA loans (Bring to Service Center)
Information about any Katrina-related loans received from the
Small Business Administration (SBA).
FEMA assistance (Bring to Service Center)
Information about any Katrina-related proceeds received from
FEMA.
Current intentions
A statement of your Personal Recovery Plan (e.g., repair,
rebuild, resettle, undecided).
Where To Register
Homeowners who registered for Phase I, but were not
eligible, are automatically registered for Phase II.
Homeowners do not need an appointment to register for Phase
II. To register your Housing Needs for Phase II, visit one of
the following Service Centers:
Grant Service Centers
Jackson County
Singing River Mall
Monday - Friday 10 am - 6 pm
2800 US Highway 90
Suite 1382
Gautier MS 39553
Harrison County
Monday - Friday 10 am - 6 pm
Prime Outlets Gulfport
10000 Factory Shops Blvd
Gulfport MS 39505
Hancock County
Monday - Friday 8 am - 6 pm
3068 Longfellow Drive
Building 6A
Bay St. Louis MS 39520 There is additional hurricane
relief funding of up to $1 billion
available for Mississippi and other states (AL, TX, FL) to compete for.
(Louisiana's share is set aside.)
Here is the link to the HUD press release
HUD Press Release
Home Depot
Foundation
Founded: 2002
Contact: Caroline Counihan, Public Relations
Address:
Home Depot Foundation
2455 Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta, GA 30339
Phone: (770) 384-3889 or toll-free (866) 593-7019
Fax: (770) 384-3908 or toll-free (866) 593-7027
E-mail:
hd_foundation@homedepot.com
URL:
http://www.homedepotfoundation.org/
Mission:
To create healthy, livable communities through the integration
of affordable housing built responsibly, and the preservation
and restoration of community trees.
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