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Jul 14, 2010

GNO FAIR HOUSING: TELL DC TO KEEP ITS REBUILDING PROMISES TO THE GULF COAST!

Click here to take action now by contacting your Senators!
A current appropriations bill that has already passed the House of Representatives seeks to pay for the ongoing war in Afghanistan,  oil spill clean up efforts, and other projects by taking back $400 million in recovery funds for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that are desperately needed in Louisiana to help homeowners rebuild their homes and lives.  nother $112 million in disaster funds for Hurricanes Ike and Gustav and the Midwest Floods are also proposed for rescission.  If the federal government takes back this needed money, 19,000 families in Louisiana, including 6,600 in New Orleans alone, will be unable to rebuild their homes.

Please contact your Senators and let them know that you are watching and expect the federal government to keep its promise to the Gulf Coast recovery.  Feel free to paste the text below into your Senator's contact form or use it for reference when you call.

Thank you,
Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center

contactTake action now!  Paste this text into your Senator's contact form


Dear [Decision Maker]:

I urge you to oppose two provisions in the 2010 Supplemental bill that would take back badly needed recovery dollars from the 2005 and 2008 hurricanes.  The current bill includes rescission of $400 million in funds appropriated in 2008 for CDBG for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and $112 million in funds appropriated in 2008 for Hurricanes Ike and Gustav and the Midwest Floods, and I encourage you to strike these provisions.

While Congress responds to the most recent crisis in the Gulf, it must not do so at the detriment of ongoing rebuilding efforts from the 2005 and 2008 storms.  Families impacted by the ongoing oil spill are still repairing their homes from these catastrophes, and will need this money more than ever as more jobs are lost, businesses shuttered, and other economic hurdles surmount.  

The need for affordable housing is still acute in Louisiana.  According to the state, as many as 19,000 homeowners in Louisiana, including roughly 6,600 homeowners in Orleans Parish, could end up in unable to rebuild their homes without the intervention the $400 million in CDBG dollars will provide.  These homeowners have been unable to complete renovation on their homes with already allocated Road Home dollars because of inadequate original grants, fraudulent contractors, contaminated Chinese drywall, and impacts from the economic downturn.  

Losing the $400 million of 2008 CDBG dollars for Hurricane Katrina and Rita would be devastating to these thousands of families still in flux almost five years later.  Please strike the provisions taking back these needed dollars from recovering communities.  The federal government made a promise to be a full partner with the communities of the Gulf Coast in rebuilding their lives, and I ask that you strive to keep that promise by not taking back these needed funds.

Thank you for your consideration of my views and the continued work you do on behalf of the citizens of the Gulf Coast.   I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
[Signature]

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