Governor's Office of Housing Development
to Assist with Long-term Fire Recovery Efforts
July 3, 2002 - The Governor's Office of Housing Development
(GOHD) announced today that it is working with officials from Navajo
County, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
and the Northern Arizona Council of Government (NACOG) to devise
a plan for long-term housing and infrastructure recovery in the
wildfire ravaged areas of the state.
GOHD will funnel financial assistance to the area that may be
used to assist with such efforts as assisting homeowners with removal
of debris, water treatment, and assistance to individual homeowners
to repair or replace homes lost to fire. Such funding from the State
will match federal dollars being provided for relief efforts by
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
GOHD has been charged by Governor Jane Dee Hull with leading the
housing recovery efforts on behalf of the State and will be coming
up with a plan to address the most pressing housing and community-recovery
related issues. The State's primary focus will be to assist low-
and moderate- income residents who have had their primary residences
affected. According to Dr. Sheila D. Harris, Director of GOHD, "From
the State's perspective we're looking at ways to help alleviate
any gaps that may exist for homeowners who have lost their primary
residences and due to their financial situation will not qualify
for the low-interest loans available through FEMA for recovery.
We're well aware that as recovery efforts proceed there will be
many unmet needs that will emerge and our office will be looking
at ways to assist, as well as working with other agencies to identify
other resources."
Area residents and businesses seeking recovery assistance are urged
by the State to register with FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Once
residents have exhausted available resources from FEMA referrals
will be given for assistance through other voluntary and interfaith
organizations. Any State assistance that may be available to individual
homeowners will be made available through such a network of organizations,
through NACOG or directly from the County. Residents must register
through FEMA in order to be considered for further assistance that
may be available through the State.
For more information related to this press release, contact Carol
Ditmore (carold@housingaz.com) at (602) 280-1458.