The Alternative Housing Pilot Program (AHPP) is a pilot program to identify and evaluate 
better ways to house disaster victims. It resulted from a $400 million Congressional 
appropriation in 2006 (P.L. 109-243 Sec. 2403) and is identified as a key program in FEMA's 
National Disaster Housing Strategy. 

In 2007, the program funded five multi-year grants in four Gulf Coast States. Each project 
explores a different solution to locally acceptable transitional and permanent disaster 
housing. The projects vary in scope, type of unit, type of construction, managing agency, 
business processes, and ways of addressing the unique needs of the community. Each project 
is designed to meet short-term and long-term needs of disaster survivors, as the Gulf Coast 
continues to recover from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

To evaluate the success of each project, FEMA engaged HUD to perform building and social 
science research. The research is intended to generate a better understanding various post-
disaster construction methods and means of addressing recovery. Once complete, FEMA will 
work with HUD to share the findings and to integrate lessons learned into future disaster 
housing planning and operations.


Grants awards for the 5 projects include:

Alabama / The City of Bayou La Batre ($15,667,293): 
This project is an example rapid permanent deployment of modular homes. The city built two 
(2) adjacent developments, totaling 100 units, outside the flood plain. The site plans include 
expansion space that is pre-designated for temporary disaster housing units or additional 
construction. At the conclusion of the project, the units will be transferred to a Public Housing 
Agency that was created as a result of the grant. The units are commercially available 
modular homes that can rapidly built, transported, and sited; and can accommodate up to a 
six-member family, use cement fiber materials, and withstand winds speeds of 140 mph. 

Louisiana / The Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) ($74,542,370): 
This project is an example of multi-jurisdictional construction on group and individual sites 
that is managed by the State?s Office of Community Development. The units include multiple 
models of Louisiana Cottages and a multi-family design. The units are similar to a 
commercially available design and range in size, construction method, and configuration. 
Most Katrina cottages are site-built with a steel frame. To speed construction, similar wood-
frame 


units are factory built. Once construction is fully completed, the units will be primarily 
managed by a variety of non-profit partners.

Mississippi / Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) ($281,318,612): 
Mississippi Cottage and Park Model ($275,427,730): This project, managed by the State?s 
emergency management agency, is an example of a large scale ?temporary to permanent? 
construction project that crosses multiple jurisdictions. During the temporary phase, the State 
placed thousands of units at individual and group sites on temporary foundations. During the 
permanent phase that state either sold the units to qualified residents, or disposed of the 
units to non-profits and at auction. The units can be commercially manufactured, are similar 
in size to standard FEMA units, and are built to more stringent building codes using rot, 
moisture, and mold resistant materials. 

MS Eco Cottage ($5,890,882): This project is an example of multiple models of a highly energy-
efficient temporary disaster housing built and managed by non-profit agencies. The design 
emphasizes green building technologies, durability, and an open interior to accommodate 
families of various sizes. 

Texas / Texas Housing and Community Development Agency (TDHCA) ($16,471,725): 
This project is an example of a panelized technology that can potentially be transported flat in 
standard 8? x 20? shipping containers, rapidly assembled, and either dissembled or placed 
permanently. The State revised the original scope to include only a select set of the individual 
sites and the technology continues to be evaluated.

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?FEMA?s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, 
sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.?










           May 2011


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