Road Home Program

Road Home Program
Name	Road Home Program
Type	disaster recovery program
Established	2006
Jurisdiction	Louisiana
Budget	~$9 billion
Administered by	Louisiana Office of Community Development

Road Home Program The Road Home Program was a post-disaster housing recovery initiative created after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita to provide aid for homeowners across Louisiana. It aimed to distribute federal disaster relief funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to affected residents, coordinating with state agencies such as the Louisiana Office of Community Development and federal entities including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United States Congress. The program operated amid broader recovery efforts involving organizations like the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and local governments including the City of New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish.

Background and Purpose

The program originated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (2005) and Hurricane Rita (2005) when the United States Congress allocated Community Development Block Grant funds through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to support homeowner recovery in Louisiana. It responded to catastrophic damage in parishes such as Orleans Parish, Jefferson Parish, and St. Tammany Parish and interfaced with rebuilding plans endorsed by officials like Kathleen Blanco and Bobby Jindal. The initiative intended to facilitate reconstruction, reduce displacement, and align with mitigation strategies promoted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Administration and Funding

Administration was led by the Louisiana Office of Community Development in coordination with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Funding derived primarily from Community Development Block Grant allocations authorized by the United States Congress and overseen by officials associated with the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations. Financial oversight intersected with audits from the United States Government Accountability Office and investigations involving the Louisiana Legislative Auditor and the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Eligibility and Application Process

Eligibility criteria were established for homeowners impacted in parishes including Orleans Parish, Plaquemines Parish, and St. Bernard Parish, focusing on primary residences damaged by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. Applicants submitted documentation demonstrating ownership, occupancy, and damage levels, interacting with offices such as parish clerks and agencies like the Internal Revenue Service for tax records and the United States Postal Service for address verification. The application process required coordination with caseworkers from municipal recovery offices in places like New Orleans and organizations such as the Urban League and Catholic Charities USA for assistance.

Housing Assistance and Services Provided

Assistance included grant programs for home repair, elevation, and relocation, as well as incentives tied to buyout and acquisition options in flood-prone zones like the Lower Ninth Ward and Venice, Louisiana. Services coordinated with construction contractors registered through state procurement systems and involved elevation standards influenced by guidance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and building codes adopted by the State of Louisiana. Support also linked to programs from nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity and philanthropic entities like the Katrina Relief Fund to provide temporary housing, reconstruction loans, and counseling for displaced families.

Impact and Outcomes

The program distributed billions in CDBG funds and affected homeowners across urban centers including New Orleans and rural communities in Plaquemines Parish and Terrebonne Parish. Outcomes included reconstructed homes, elevated structures, and buyouts that altered land use in floodplains documented by scholars at institutions like Tulane University and Louisiana State University. The recovery intersected with broader initiatives such as the Greater New Orleans Urban Water Plan and influenced long-term resilience planning involving the Water Institute of the Gulf and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Controversies and Legal Challenges

The program faced controversies over award calculations, administrative errors, and allegations of mismanagement, leading to audits and legal actions involving the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, the United States Attorney's Office, and affected homeowners represented by law firms and nonprofit legal clinics affiliated with Tulane University Law School and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. Litigation addressed disputes over formula allocations, property valuations, and compliance with federal regulations such as those enforced by the United States Department of Justice in fair housing contexts. High-profile disputes touched communities like the Lower Ninth Ward and prompted legislative and policy reviews at the state level involving the Louisiana State Legislature.

Category:Housing in Louisiana Category:Disaster recovery in the United States