Aug. 25, 2010

GOV. BARBOUR ANNOUNCES FEWER THAN 200 TRAVEL TRAILERS
REMAIN ON GULF COAST
Number of housing units will return to pre-Katrina levels by next year

Gov. Haley Barbour announced today that, after Hurricane Katrina forced families into more than 45,000 FEMA temporary housing units, only 176 of the travel trailers are occupied in the state today, including 93 units in the three coastal counties.

“Over the past five years, we have been committed to ensuring there is an adequate, affordable supply of housing for residents affected by Hurricane Katrina,” Gov. Barbour said. “Through innovative programs we have been able to expand the number of public housing units and build back neighborhoods stronger than before.”

Approaching the anniversary of the storm, the number of temporary housing units being utilized is 0.4 percent of the peak.

The low number of remaining temporary housing units is a clear indicator of the success of Gov. Barbour’s post-Katrina housing recovery efforts. The FEMA travel trailer became a symbol of the housing crisis that persisted after more than 200,000 homes were damaged by Katrina’s powerful storm surge and winds, including more than 60,000 residences that received major damage or were destroyed. More than 45,000 temporary housing units were occupied in Mississippi after Katrina.

The number of remaining FEMA temporary housing units by county: Hancock – 22; Harrison – 56; Jackson – 15; Pearl River – 31; Stone – 6; George – 3; Others – 43.

Gov. Barbour has made housing the centerpiece of his comprehensive Katrina recovery efforts. Collaborating with state, federal, nonprofit and private partners, the Governor developed a broad housing plan that was put into place almost immediately after the storm. The state created innovative approaches that were, in many cases, marked by first-of-its-kind housing programs.

The Homeowner Assistance Program is an example of the state’s innovative approach. The program became the cornerstone of the state’s housing recovery plan, providing grants to nearly 28,000 homeowners totaling more than $2 billion. Every home rebuilt under the program must utilize the highest building codes and elevation requirements available. Furthermore, flood insurance covenants are tied to all properties, ensuring that those property owners will never again experience an uncompensated loss due to hurricane damage.

The announcement coincides with the release of updated housing estimates by The Compass Group, LLC and Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District. The June 2010 update to the Mississippi Housing Data Project reveals the housing supply has corresponded to the population of the coastal region since 2009 and the number of housing units on the Mississippi Gulf Coast will return to pre-Katrina levels in 2011. 

Mitigation has been a major theme throughout all state housing programs. The state has ensured that all new housing is built to withstand future storms, going beyond locally-adopted building codes and elevation requirements in many instances.

The Mississippi Alternative Housing Program is another unique approach for disaster housing. The Governor took the Katrina Cottage design from the Governor’s Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal Commission charrettes and formulated a program that not only removed thousands from cramped conditions in travel trailers but is providing an affordable permanent housing solution for low-income households. For many of these families, the Mississippi Cottage is among the highest quality living units in which they have ever resided.

At the height of the program, more than 2,800 cottages were occupied. As of July 2010, 500 units had been sold to their occupants as permanent housing; only 950 units remain occupied with many of those occupants working towards purchasing their cottage.

These two initiatives, in combination other housing programs, have not just resulted in a comprehensive housing recovery that has not only addressed supply and affordability, but replaced housing in a manner that was better than before. A few notable programs include:

• Public Housing Program – After construction of remaining projects is complete, more than 3,100 public housing units will be available, up from 1,981 before Katrina.

• Long-Term Workforce Housing Program - Contains a diverse set of project types, ranging from homeowner and rental construction to mortgage assistance to homeowner repair. Projects leverage other private and public investment. As a result, the total investment in LTW housing projects is more than double the amount of CDBG committed by the state.

• Small Rental Assistance Program – Accounting for 4,000 small rental units, this initiative has been very important in rebuilding affordable housing for low- and very-low-income residents. Program reports reveal that SRAP tenants are typically low income; more than half have incomes of less than $20,000, and 75 percent have incomes below $30,000.

• Low Income Housing Tax Credits – GO Zone legislation authorized higher tax credit allocation levels for South Mississippi. This program encourages development of high-quality apartments by providing investors with federal income tax credits. In the three southernmost counties, LIHTC awards will account for 5,000 low-income apartment units.

• Housing Choice Vouchers - To help very-low-income renters afford the higher costs of living, Governor Barbour asked Congress for an allocation of housing choice vouchers. As a result of a Congressional appropriation, HUD allocated 2,930 new vouchers to Mississippi Public Housing Authorities.

In 2008, Governor Barbour requested a detailed housing recovery assessment to determine the interrelation between state and private housing efforts. The Compass Group, LLC and Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District were chosen through a procurement process to provide an ongoing comprehensive analysis of current and future housing recovery. This study has informed program funding decisions and directed Administration housing recovery efforts.

The updated report from the Mississippi Housing Data Project can be downloaded at http://smpdd.com/data-center/mississippi-housing-data-project.html.