Walking The Talk Of Long-Term Mississippi Recovery
Release Date: May 6, 2009
Release Number: 1604-712
» More Information on Mississippi Hurricane Katrina
BILOXI, Miss. -- Recovery from Hurricane Katrina can feel like a long and winding road, filled, at times, with potholes and other surprises. But there's a team intent on straightening and smoothing out that road - especially as it leads to affordable housing. It's the Long Term Community Recovery staff of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Tasked with providing specialized assistance to address unique needs not satisfied by other disaster assistance programs, this group is tackling the affordable housing issue in a post-Katrina Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Long Term Community Recovery Section Chief Bob Haywood and his team assessed the impact of the hurricane on housing and now advise federal, state and local governments and communities on recovery decisions.
The team works hand-in-glove with the Mississippi Development Authority to help communities apply for long term workforce housing grants to rebuild housing stock for moderate income individuals and families. A FEMA LTCR team member served on a committee to evaluate proposals MDA received from non-profit housing organizations that applied for the first round of grants totaling $100 million. The team also helped several non-profit organizations that received more than $6 million in workforce housing funds develop their proposed programs and grant applications.
"We also work to maintain continuity in program delivery among federal departments and agencies such as Housing and Urban Development, and other stakeholders to ensure follow-through on recovery efforts," Haywood said.
Specifically, LTCR assisted groups in Hancock County to develop and open the Hancock County Housing Resource Center, which serves as a model for new centers recently opened in Harrison and Jackson counties. At these centers, community-based housing providers coordinate and collaborate on case management and housing construction programs primarily funded through MDA's workforce housing grant program.
"This is an example of the strategic housing planning work that we do," Haywood said, adding that LTCR also develops templates to be used in applying for additional housing grants.
Some Community Development Block Grant funds are applied as subsidies to make housing more affordable. The problem now is the need for increased subsidies to make up the amount people can't get financed in this difficult economy.
Still, there is much more LTCR staff do to bring affordable housing to the Coast.
Until recently, LTCR staff tracked and reported to FEMA headquarters staff key program accomplishments and program implementation issues in the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency's alternative housing pilot program. The reports helped develop more options to transform the temporary Mississippi Cottages into permanent housing.
"MEMA and LTCR staff collaborated to figure out how to work with local governments to make some Mississippi Cottages a permanent and welcome fixture on the Gulf Coast for those with ongoing housing needs," said MEMA Director Mike Womack.
MEMA and a FEMA LTCR staffer worked closely with Habitat for Humanity-Bay Waveland to design expansion modules for the cottages that can be economically constructed to enhance acceptability within communities. The team is currently working with Habitat for Humanity for the Mississippi Gulf Coast on site design and planning for a proposed workforce housing community in Harrison County.
"A LTCR team member developed designs for the cottages that improve long-term livability and boost curb appeal," Haywood said. "We also provided a repository of pre-approved designs for cottages to minimize individual time, effort and cost of designing expansion models."
Whether it's giving advice to a community on how to land millions of dollars in grants, providing architectural design expertise or keeping an open channel of communication among federal, state and other agencies, FEMA's Long Term Community Recovery team walks the talk of FEMA's promise to stay here as long as it takes to help Mississippi recover.
Photo Links:
www.photolibrary.fema.gov/photolibrary/photo_details.do?id=39303
www.photolibrary.fema.gov/photolibrary/photo_details.do?id=39302
FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 06-May-2009 15:31:48