November 2, 2006

eNewsletter from the Governor’s Office of Recovery and Renewal

www.governorbarbour.com/recovery

Alternative Housing Pilot Program

The State of Mississippi recently submitted its application for the Alternative Housing Pilot Program. FEMA solicited applications for the $400 million program from the five Gulf Coast states (Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Florida and Alabama) to design creative housing solutions to replace FEMA-provided travel trailers and mobile homes. 

The state’s proposals emphasize comfort and aesthetic design, while increasing safety and durability. Square footage is increased to allow more storage space and the use of apartment-sized appliances and standard beds. All units are designed to comply with the International Building Code to reduce vulnerability to natural hazards and increase their length of use. The units will utilize similar transportation methods as travel trailers and mobile homes to provide quick and efficient deployment. 

The deadline for applications was October 20 and FEMA expects to announce grant awards within 30 to 60 days from the deadline. Once the funding announcement has been made, the Governor’s Office of Recovery and Renewal will issue a Request for Proposals though its website, www.governorbarbour.com/recovery.

The State of Mississippi has led the movement to find a more suitable replacement for travel trailers. The first alternative housing designs were created at the Mississippi Renewal Forum, convened by the Governor’s Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal in October 2005. The cottage design produced at the forum generated substantial interest from around the country on the issue of disaster emergency housing.

Since that time, the State of Mississippi has actively pursued the issue of replacing travel trailers for its residents. In June, U.S. Senator Thad Cochran successfully proposed the allocation of funds to support alternative temporary housing solutions.

The state has collaborated with an expert team of architects and organizations to create alternative housing solutions, including the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the College of Architecture, Art and Design at Mississippi State University, the Federation of American Scientists, and the architectural firm Looney Ricks Kiss.

To view the state’s proposals for the Alternative Housing Pilot Program, click here:

Alternative Housing Pilot Program

Homeowner Assistance Program

The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) recently explained Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP) policies regarding new grant calculation procedures and homeowners that have sold their homes.

MDA has clarified the program’s application procedure for eligible homeowners who have sold their homes since August 29, 2005.

With the clarified procedures, MDA is attempting to help eligible homeowners meet the requirements necessary to receive an HAP grant, even if they have sold their homes. The program requires that all homeowners attach a covenant to their damaged property in order to reduce the chances of severe flood damage in the event of another major hurricane and to ensure that the property has ample flood insurance coverage in the future.

These covenants require homeowners to:

• Obtain and maintain flood insurance on their property

• Rebuild or repair their homes in accordance with all applicable building codes and local ordinances

• If rebuilding, do so in accordance with FEMA advisory flood elevations

The newly outlined HAP procedures provide homeowners who have sold their homes with a way to meet these requirements. Specifically, if an eligible homeowner who sold his or her home obtains a voluntary covenant agreement from the current property owner, the original homeowner may thereby meet the grant requirement that a covenant be attached to the damaged property.

Notification letters have been sent to known eligible homeowners who sold their homes to inform them of these procedures. However, MDA encourages all homeowners who sold their homes after Hurricane Katrina and who believe they are eligible for HAP to visit the nearest service center, regardless of whether they have previously applied for a HAP grant. The service centers will provide these homeowners with the necessary documents and instructions to obtain the required covenant agreement from the current owner and any current lien holders and lenders with a legal interest in the property. In addition, any homeowners who are eligible for an HAP grant but have not applied previously because they had sold their homes may apply for the grant at the service center.

MDA has also adopted a new policy for the program that will give most applicants a larger grant award.

The new policy for calculating grants will adjust the starting values for grants to use the highest value of three assessments:

• The Original Starting Value for the property as described in the closing package

• An SBA Assessment of the damage amount

• An Allied Adjusting Assessment of the damage amount

None of these values may exceed the maximum amount of $150,000 or the adjusted insured value of the home, which is actual insured value times 135 percent. The new policy, which took effect on October 19, 2006, came at the direction of Governor Haley Barbour and will be applied in two ways:

1. If you have not yet received your check: As a result of this new calculation, the amount of your qualified grant award may differ from the actual grant amount. You will be provided with an Explanation of Disbursement for your final award amount. You will receive this letter in a separate mailing from your check.

2. If you have already received your check: As a result of this new calculation, you may be eligible for an additional grant amount. If so, you will receive a supplemental check along with an Explanation of Disbursement detailing your new calculation and grant supplement. You may deposit the check you have already received.

MDA will also be extending all deadlines for closings and appeals. The deadline dates will be based on your receipt of the new Explanation of Disbursement letter. 

Staff at the service centers can answer any questions regarding HAP eligibility requirements, including those pertaining to homeowners who have sold their homes. More information about the HAP can be found online at www.mshomehelp.gov.

In addition, MDA has established special booths within each service center where MDA representatives, including notaries, will provide support to applicants in understanding this process.

There are now three service centers located on the coast, including a new center in Hancock County. Locations are as follows:

Homeowner Assistance Program Update

MDA is also providing program updates through its website. Weekly updates will be given on the number of applications, notifications, closings, grants paid and the amount of grant money distributed. As of

November 1, HAP had taken the following actions:

• Applications received – 17,210

• Applicants notified to close – 10,115

• Applicants notified of non-qualification – 2,647

• Closings completed – 6,973

• Number of grants paid – 4,501

• Dollar amount grants paid - $269,100,000

As a result of recent program changes by Governor Barbour, the flow of assistance has increased substantially. Nearly 2,000 checks totaling over $134 million were distributed to homeowners in the past week - almost the exact amount the program disbursed in the past few months. For the week October 24 through November 1, HAP took the following actions:

• Applicants notified to close – 311

• Closings completed – 1,081

• Number of grants paid – 1,983

• Dollar amount grants paid - $134,766,000

Visit the MDA website, www.mississippi.org, and click on “Homeowner Assistance Program – Phase I” located near the bottom of the page to view these weekly updates.

Governor’s Recovery Fund

The Board of Directors of the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund has approved $18 million in grant commitments to aid in the recovery process. Under decisions made on September 22, 2006, Long Term Recovery Committees in George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, and Stone Counties are targeted to receive grants to help bridge gaps in unfunded needs of residents.

Projects approved to receive grant commitments are:

 - Disaster Recovery Services of George County, MS, will receive $1.2 million for a Regional Resource Center to be located in Lucedale

- Hancock County Long Term Recovery Committee, Harrison County Long Term Recovery Coalition, and Rebuild Jackson County will share in a $15 million allotment to be used for individual housing assistance

- Pearl River County Hope Committee will receive $650,000 for a Regional Resource and Senior Center in Picayune

- Stone County Long Term Recovery Committee will receive $200,000 to fund housing repair projects

Additionally, non-profit organizations in Harrison County and Hancock County will receive $400,000 and $600,000, respectively, through each county’s Long Term Recovery Committee to supplement other non-profit monies to build Community Resource Centers in the communities of DeLisle and Pearlington.

For more information on the Governor’s Recovery Fund, click here: Governor's Recovery Fund Press Release

Mississippi Gulf Coast Job Fair

Governor Haley Barbour’s Job Fair Network will be holding the Mississippi Gulf Coast Job Fair on Tuesday, November 14, at the Edgewater Mall in Biloxi. The job fair will be open from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Over 100 employers from Mississippi and other states will be in attendance to offer job opportunities for those seeking employment. For more information, contact WIN Job Center at 228-388-7997.

The Governor's Job Fair Network was created to aid all Mississippians in finding safe and secure employment. This statewide program serves to facilitate interaction for those seeking employment as well as for companies seeking qualified employees. To view a list of registered employers and their job openings, visit the Governor’s Job Fair Network website, www.jobfairs.ms.gov.