Gov. Blanco Is Violating the Human Right to Housing (New Orleans, LA) Governor Blanco of Louisiana
Access to housing is a basic human right that is recognized by the U.S. government and international laws. However, Governor Blanco designed a disaster recovery program that doesn’t give a single dollar directly to any displaced renters.
HELPLING LANDLORDS, NOT RENTERS:
Governor Blanco has obtained $10.4 billion of federal funds for the Road Home Program, which is managed by the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA)(note:3). As part of the Road Home Program, the LRA has allocated $869 million for landlords who agree to use the funds to rehab their units and rent them at so-called “affordable rates.”(note:4) In addition, the LRA has earmarked approximately $500 million in community development block grants and $80 million in tax credits to fund the construction of 7,000 rental units in hurricane-damaged areas throughout Louisiana.(note:5) Today, not a single unit is available for rent on the LRA’s online rental property database. It will take at least several more months, and more likely years, for people who rent to get any trickle-down benefits from the grants and incentives that the LRA offers to landlords and developers.
TOKEN HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR RENTERS:
Governor Blanco and the LRA promise to give some displaced Louisiana renters the opportunity to become homeowners. However, this promise rings hollow when you consider the fact that LRA only provides $50 million or 0.4% of the $10.4 billion to establish a first-time homeowners program for displaced people.(note:6) Although $50 million seems like a lot of money, it can only help approximately 245 displaced families or individuals – an outrageously small fraction of displaced residents – to purchase a home.(note:7)
CALL OUT (table)
$50,000,000.00 ÷ $204,147.00 = 245 homes
LRA’s First-Time Maximum Home
Homeowners Fund Purchase Price
REFERENCES
- James Kelly, Association of Catholic Charities, Testimonty to U.S. House of Representatives, January 13, 2005.
- Bill Quigley, The Corporate Looting of the Gulf Coast: Robin Hood in Reverse, The Black Commentator, Issue 206, November 16, 2006.
- Louisiana Recovery Authority, Quarterly Report, June – August 2006.
- Eric Lolis Elie, Renters Try to Fit in with LRA, Times-Picayune, November 15, 2006.
- Louisiana Recovery Authority, Press Release: LRA, LHFA Announce Latest Round of Tax Incentives to Address Rental Shortage, November 14, 2006.
- Eric Lolis Elie, Renters Try to Fit in with LRA, Times-Picayune, November 15, 2006.
- Louisiana Housing Finance Authority, First-Time Homebuyer Program, available online at http://www.lhfa.state.la.us/programs/homeownership/first_time_homebuyer.php
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