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PolicyLink—Report on Policy Impact and Gulf Coast Recovery

Read PolicyLink's policy recommendations here: Achieving Policy Impact New Orleans and the Gulf Coast

Nearly 4 years have passed since the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, floods, and levee breaches claimed nearly two thousand lives, imperiled thousands more, and wreaked unprecedented damage on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Hurricanes Gustav and Ike followed in 2008 - triggering additional evacuations and causing billions more in damages, imperiling communities throughout the region. Now, with the crisis in the housing market and a weakened economic climate, recovery efforts are made increasingly difficult - particularly for those in low-income communities and the many communities of color where housing recovery is languishing.

When faced with adversity, the American people have demonstrated their willingness to help neighbors in times of need. But more than three years later, the federal government has not held up its end of the bargain. Insufficient funding, a labyrinth bureaucracy, and rebuilding policies skewed against low-income residents have left many along the Gulf Coast still struggling to reclaim their lives