Important information re: Housing Aid for Katrina/Rita evacuees. (Serious)

[JanMichael]

This is relatively new news so if you care about these people please read on.

Basically a City or County (Or State I believe) can pay for Housing Vouchers up to 12 months with Local funds, or Federal like CDBG or HOME funds, and get 100% reimbursement. Yes 100%. All it takes is a reallocation of funds usually earmaked for longer term developments. They'd only be delayed for a few months.

The problem is that it's voluntary so if your city has evacuees that will be getting tossed out of hotels in two weeks because the Red Cross $100/day program ends then get on the ball. They may already know but it never hurts to ask.

This is Disaster Specific Guidance #2 Eligible Costs for Emergency Sheltering Declarations Hurricane Katrina (It's a Word Doc.).

It spells out what I'm going on about.

Here's a link that describes a reimbursement.

Your little non-profits (That have spent staff time and cash to help folks) can't be the agency that manages the reimbursements but under certain circumstances they COULD get money back. All you need is your Local Government to step up.

Basically this is the deal: IF FEMA ISN'T HELPING PEOPLE GET VOUCHERS GET THEM THROUGH YOUR CITY OR COUNTY AND FEMA WILL PAY IT BACK 100%!!!

[JanMichael]

1. This is real. Not a goofball idea!

:silly:

[wellstone dem]

2. kick

[JanMichael]

3. I should have used a sexier subject line!

:-)

[JanMichael]

4. I should have added that HUD has funding but only if a city/county...

...participates in this program...

[JanMichael]

5. One last nudge.

:kick:

[JanMichael]

6. Last f'ing try. I know that real world solutions are lost here at times...

...but sheesh...

[sandnsea]

7. Okay

I've got 5 things going at this second and I'm interested in this and dont want to forget. Just wanted to respond so I don't lose it.

[JanMichael]

8. It's not an easy program to digest.

But it's real and readily used. This is probably something that is out of the realm of most GD discussions but BOSSHOGG's thread made me post it to try to activate DUers to force their local government's to act now and not later because people need the assistance NOW.

Thanks for the bump:-)