Hurricane Katrina may have occurred over two and a half years ago, but her affects are still being felt today. Everyone is so busy that we rarely keep up with what goes on in our own households, so I know many have forgotten the ills of Katrina and the Gulf Coast victims. Today I want to address an issue that is still wreaking havoc on the Gulf Coast; Housing.
As we all know thousands of people lost their homes to Hurricane Katrina. Katrina was one of the worst disasters to ever hit U.S. soil. (with about 75 billion dollars in property damage done in New Orleans alone.) And after more than two and a half years there is still a housing crisis.
The Hurricane Katrina Emergency Act of 2005 was passed by legislators to help combat the housing crisis but many of the problems still exist. Current congressman have been pushing for an expansion of the program (with bills like the Disaster Rebuilding Assistance Act) which is trying to raise the maximum amount a victim can seek from government for their household, but these bills are still in their early stages and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been attempting to pull out completely with housing and leave the distribution of aid up to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
It is the responsibility of our government to ensure that all victims of disasters have safe housing. Those who have lost everything have no one to turn to and our government cannot turn their backs on them. It is a governmental obligation to provide assistance for housing to those who have lost their homes. The government could claim that they were ill-prepared for Hurricane Katrina’s initial destruction, but after two and a half years, there is no excuse for why people who had HOMES BEFORE Hurricane Katrina, are walking around HOMELESS now.
It is our duty to help those in need during times of disaster. I hope everyone who reads this blog will take time out to write to your local congressman or congresswoman and ask them to pass new legislation that will help resolve the housing issue. Write to your congressperson and ask them to vote YES to legislation like the “Safe and Healthy Emergency Housing Act of 2007”, ask to them vote FOR the “Disaster Rebuilding Assistance Act of 2007” and ask them to vote in FAVOR OF the “Mortgage and Rental Disaster Relief Act of 2007.” The people of the Gulf Coast need us, and It is OUR DUTY to HELP!!!
As we all know thousands of people lost their homes to Hurricane Katrina. Katrina was one of the worst disasters to ever hit U.S. soil. (with about 75 billion dollars in property damage done in New Orleans alone.) And after more than two and a half years there is still a housing crisis.
The Hurricane Katrina Emergency Act of 2005 was passed by legislators to help combat the housing crisis but many of the problems still exist. Current congressman have been pushing for an expansion of the program (with bills like the Disaster Rebuilding Assistance Act) which is trying to raise the maximum amount a victim can seek from government for their household, but these bills are still in their early stages and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been attempting to pull out completely with housing and leave the distribution of aid up to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
It is the responsibility of our government to ensure that all victims of disasters have safe housing. Those who have lost everything have no one to turn to and our government cannot turn their backs on them. It is a governmental obligation to provide assistance for housing to those who have lost their homes. The government could claim that they were ill-prepared for Hurricane Katrina’s initial destruction, but after two and a half years, there is no excuse for why people who had HOMES BEFORE Hurricane Katrina, are walking around HOMELESS now.
It is our duty to help those in need during times of disaster. I hope everyone who reads this blog will take time out to write to your local congressman or congresswoman and ask them to pass new legislation that will help resolve the housing issue. Write to your congressperson and ask them to vote YES to legislation like the “Safe and Healthy Emergency Housing Act of 2007”, ask to them vote FOR the “Disaster Rebuilding Assistance Act of 2007” and ask them to vote in FAVOR OF the “Mortgage and Rental Disaster Relief Act of 2007.” The people of the Gulf Coast need us, and It is OUR DUTY to HELP!!!
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