HUD Reg. VI-08-61 Patricia Campbell (817) 978-5974 |
For Release Tuesday September 9, 2008 |
HUD SEARCHING FOR 1,200 KATRINA EVACUEE HOUSEHOLDS FROM SIX LOUISIANA APARTMENT COMPLEXES WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE PERMANENT HOUSING VOUCHERS
Families must sign up by Oct 31, 2008
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is funding Tenant Protection Vouchers (TPVs) for
the 1,200 households displaced from the following
apartment complexes as a result of Hurricane Katrina:
- Forest Park Apartments - New Orleans, LA
- Redwood I Apartments - Kenner, LA
- Redwood II Apartments - Kenner, LA
- Walnut Square Apartments - New Orleans, LA
- Tanglewood I Apartments - Westwego, LA
- Tanglewood II Apartments - Westwego, LA
A TPV provides rental assistance to help families rent decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private rental
market. As long as households meet all
eligibility requirements (similar to those of Section 8 Vouchers), TPVs may
be used in communities throughout the United States. Families who were residing in
these six properties pre-Katrina, and who are currently enrolled in the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP) or Disaster Voucher Program
(DVP) are still
eligible to accept this offer. Unlike DHAP or DVP, Tenant Protection Vouchers do not expire and
provide permanent rental assistance.
In July, certified letters were mailed to all 1,200 eligible households. "In less than a month, almost a quarter of
these households have accepted this offer,"
says A. Cynthia Leon, HUD Regional Director. "During the last three
years, however, some evacuees have moved from their address of record, so we hope that they can
be reached through the major market advertising we have scheduled for later this month and through word-of-mouth. TPVs will offer those families greater security
than other housing assistance programs and will allow them to plan for their family's future."
Pre-Katrina residents at Forest Park, Redwood I, Redwood II, Walnut Square, Tanglewood I, and Tanglewood II,
must contact HUD by October 31, 2008, to remain
eligible for a TPV. They can do so by returning the certification form included in the July mailing, or by calling (205) 731-2611 ext. 1091.
###