Housing Transition is Something to Welcome

Thursday, December 06, 2007
New Orleans Times-Picayune

Re: "Tenants feel pinch in shift from FEMA," Page 1, Dec. 1.

This article leaves the impression that residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina should brace themselves for one more indignity, something called the Disaster Housing Assistance Program.

DHAP is simply the vehicle by which rental assistance will be transferred from FEMA to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is a necessary step. Twenty-eight months after the hurricane hit, a clear shift has been made from immediate disaster relief to long-term housing needs, which is HUD's core mission and expertise.

Our objective is not just to take over the program, but to improve upon it. DHAP provides housing counseling, case management and referrals for social services, including child care, job training and one-on-one social counseling.

As for landlords, yes, we are also calling on them to meet basic obligations, such as passing limited health and safety inspections. Over 12,000 landlords nationally have agreed to continue participating in the program. They are doing the right thing.

Like you, we are disappointed that a small number of landlords have pulled out of the program, some because they do not wish to undergo routine HUD inspections. And a few landlords may be pulling out because they see an opportunity to jack up rents with new tenants. I find their greed particularly egregious given the time of year.

The transition to DHAP is not something to fear but to welcome. Our housing counselors stand ready to mediate concerns, eliminate misunderstandings and explain the process. It's the next step toward normalcy for the entire region.

Alphonso Jackson