SOCIAL INJUSTICE IN HOUSING ISSUES

THE THANKSGIVING and CHRISTMAS SEASONS are UPON US and the
MARCH 31, 2009 DEADLINE for REMOVAL OF MEMA COTTAGES

Coast Housing Director Gerald Blessey was appointed by Gov. Haley Barbour to help solve the ongoing Katrina housing crisis. When Blessey met with Bay St. Louis City Council, it came to light once more that the city does not like the cottages and does not want them to remain within "regular" housing neighborhoods. One councilman expressed "concern" that it seemed the MEMA rules for the cottage time line keep trying to be changed as each deadline for removal approaches.

From the very beginning of the idea of the cottages coming into play as a viable option for temporary housing to replace the constricting and formaldehyde-ridden FEMA trailers, councilmen in general have slammed the cottages as being little more than another form of trailers and said they belong in trailer parks and not where "real" houses are. This thinking is just plain prejudicial, narrow minded, and ridiculous.

One councilman wanted to know what to tell concerned citizens who are fortunate to live in a house, i.e. "real home" that a MEMA cottage was going to be next door. More unacceptable "thinking."

Another councilman said he didn't see any need for the cottages! I suppose he lives in a nice comfy house with no worries of where he will be living or what he'll be living in nor any sympathy or compassion for those who, through no fault of their own, have worried since August 29th. 2005 when everything they had was washed away.

AFFORDABLE :: SUSTAINABLE :: & RENTAL HOUSING CRISIS

GULF COAST NEWS - KATRINA RECOVERY in HANCOCK CO. as of 11-17-08

This is a report filed by Kathleen Johnson at the request from the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding and published in the very excellent, ongoing Katrina update news site, Gulf Coast News.

"Four years in the aftermath of Katrina there has been the realization that failure to provide affordable rental housing is critically impacting not only the recovery of the residents – but recovery of the region economically. Only 8.5%/60 units of the housing rental market in Hancock County is deemed affordable." - Kathleen Johnson

MEMA WASTING MONEY ON "TEST"

Lowe's Katrina Cottages available in different plans.


According to a recent article in the Mississippi Press, MEMA is conducting a TEST to see "if the cottages are better solutions than FEMA trailers."

A $280 million federal grant will cover the cost of this "test." A test is almost laughable, if it wasn't so sad because it is wasteful and non-productive. MEMA just needs to talk with those who suffered or still continue to suffer the confines of a trailer and the mold and toxic formaldehyde issues with those trailers.

What has happened to logic and common sense? This country has wasted and squandered more money in the past 8-year administration than is humanly possible to imagine! That $280 million would house a lot of people in cottages! Just get on with solving the problems and stop messing around!

Mississippi Cottage


Mississippi Cottage built in Ocean Springs as a model home.

KATRINA - Two Years and Counting for Rebuilding

KATRINA - Two Years and Counting is posted on The Local Voice website in my column section called, Local Chaos.
Please check it out.

Katrina made landfall on the coast of Mississippi the morning of August 29, 2005. 
At 10:00 a.m. Hurricane Katrina made its third landfall near Pearlington, MS and Slidell, LA with sustained winds of 120 mph. 

Katrina - NOAA images:



Also at 10:00 a.m.,
while at a Medicare event in Arizona, President Bush said,
"I want to thank the governors of the affected regions for mobilizing assets prior to the arrival of the storm to help citizens avoid this devastating storm."

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Aug. 28 at 12:19 GMT
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Aug. 27 at 20:21 GMT
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Aug. 26 at 16:00 GMT