The following is a review of housing recovery developments related to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and the California wildfires since last week’s Memo to Members and Partners (for the article in last week’s Memo, see 10/9). NLIHC also posts this information at On the Home Front.
HUD
- HUD Deputy Secretary Pam Patenaude discussed the department’s role in disaster recovery in HousingWire’s podcast 6 Questions with 6 HUD Executives. Deputy Secretary Patenaude explained her dual role at HUD, where she splits her time between disaster recovery and policymaking. Regarding HUD’s role in the recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, she explained that over one quarter of a million people in Puerto Rico relied on HUD every day prior to the hurricane. HUD supports more than 50,000 public housing units on the island, 117,000 FHA-backed homeowners, 33,000 rental units under the Housing Choice Voucher program, and over 25,000 privately owned rental units in the Project-Based Section 8 program.
State Action
- The Texas Land Commissioner announced on October 8 that the Texas General Land Office (GLO) approved all nine Methods of Distribution (MODs) proposed by the regional Councils of Governments for Hurricane Harvey recovery. To review the approved MODs, visit Recovery.Texas.gov. The MODs have faced criticism from advocates, given the distribution of funds based solely on storm impact without taking into account how pre-existing community needs may have contributed to worse conditions. Learn more about the critiques from a blog by Texas Housers, an NLIHC state partner and DHRC member.
- The State of Florida released a draft of its Substantial Amendment to the Florida Disaster Recovery Action Plan for distributing Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds related to Hurricane Irma. HUD requirements are available in the August 14, 2018 Federal Register.
Local Perspectives
- An article in El Nuevo Día featured the Puerto Rico Bar Association’s initiative to provide assistance to families to appeal FEMA denials of Individual Assistance because of issues related to property titles.