KATHLEEN BABINEAUX BLANCO

GOVENOR

HELENA R. CUNNINGHAM

PRESIDENT

Release Date: September 21, 2005

HURRICANE KATRINA HOME ENERGY CRISIS RELIEF

LOUISIANA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY RECEIVES $12 MILLION IN ENERGY ASSISTANCE

The Louisiana Housing Finance Agency (LHFA) received $12 million in emergency contingency funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help provide “home energy related” crisis funding resulting from the extraordinary destruction and flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina. The LFHA has allocated these resources to the various existing network of state Community Action Providers (CAPs) for distribution.

LHFA President, Helena R. Cunningham estimates the agency will be able to serve approximately 35,000 Louisiana households on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each qualifying household may receive up to three hundred dollars to assist with costs for temporary shelter or house individuals in hotels, apartments or other living situations, costs for transportation to move individuals away from the crisis area, utility reconnection costs, repair or replacement for furnaces and air conditioners, insulation repair, coats and blankets to keep individuals warm, crisis payments for utilities and utility deposits or purchase of fans, air conditioners and generators.

The available funds have been allocated to the CAPs based upon a survey estimating displaced persons seeking assistance. Eligible households are limited to those: whose home was destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Katrina; who have current incomes at or below 60 percent of the statewide median income, adjusted for family size; in which all members of the affected family identified in the crisis application were part of the household when the disaster occurred; and in which the head of household is acting on behalf of the household to provide temporary housing and/or energy-related equipment, repairs and/or replacement to preserve their health and safety. Benefits will be awarded in keeping with the State’s Priority Placement Plan.

To receive Hurricane Katrina Crisis Assistance, an application for assistance including receipts must be completed for each head of household. The applicant must provide a picture ID and documentation of the temporary housing or energy-related expenses. Applications must be obtained from your local CAPs office.

Information listings for CAP agencies and additional program information may be obtained by visiting the LHFA website www.lhfa.state.la.us/ or calling the LHFA help line 1-866-310-7971.

Helena R. Cunningham, President

Louisiana Housing Finance Agency

(225) 763-8700 Office Number

(225) 763-8710 Fax Number