I’d like to encourage everyone who owned property in the Lakewoods at the time of Katrina to register for the Road Home program. The program is changing by the day; many of the changes make the program more inclusive. Some of them aren’t means tested at all.

The LRA Progress Report dated 10/20/06 states, “A new provision to the program allows all homeowners who apply to receive up to $37,500 for undertaking specific mitigation measures when rebuilding their homes, including $30,000 for elevation.”

From the Times Picayune front page 10/21/06  “All Louisiana homeowners, including those who do not qualify for Road Homes grants to cover uninsured losses from  KatrinaRita can now apply for an additional $7500 to use for projects that would less the potential damage during future floods.” http://www.nola.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1161410739244240.xml?NZNENO&coll=1

The District 5 Rebuilding Group liaison to the LRA filed this report:

“The LRA’s Road Home Program made recent changes that enhance flexibility and increase eligibility for grants, still capped at $150,000. It is unknown how many will qualify for the maximum amount, but favorable adjustments were made as a result of feedback during the Pilot Program. Average grants have doubled in the last few weeks to almost $53,000. Homeowners who experienced losses beyond their insurance compensation are encouraged to apply, regardless of their income or assets.

A few clarifications are particularly important to some District 5 residents. Seniors over 65 years of age are now exempt from the 40% penalty for those deciding to sell their homes to LRA and move out of state. Also, SBA loans covering uninsured contents and ICC funds are both “non-duplicating” resources and do not compete with LRA grants. Qualifying homeowners can now receive both ICC and LRA mitigation resources up to $67,500 to elevate homes.

Additionally homeowners may apply to be reimbursed for certain mitigation projects, like installing storm shutters and elevating appliances and air conditioners, with the supplemental mitigation grant up to $7,500.

For further information www.Road2LA.org or 1-888-ROAD-2-LA (1-888-762-3252) “

Also, there is a District 5 Planning Meeting scheduled Saturday, November 11, 2006 from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. in the St. Dominic Gym. We have been asked to have a number of our members turn out for this meeting to impress upon the new UNOP planners the overall effort made by our district so far. It is also possible that there will be hard copies of the City Council’s rebuilding plan available. We will start with a brief status report on the continuing District 5 rebuilding efforts and then have a group discussion led by the planners (per the plan put forth by the Rockefeller Foundation.)