While we may not know the full extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Ida or the California wildfires, our thoughts immediately turn to the most vulnerable segments of our population: low-income families and those who risk displacement from their homes.
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities and its entire membership supports providing assistance in every way we can to colleagues, partners, friends, and housing residents who have been affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Ida and the wildfires in California.
CLPHA and its entire network of affordable housing professionals stands ready to work across all sectors to extend both short-term and long-term assistance to anyone in need. As we have in the past, we will advocate for HUD and FEMA programs such as DHAP and CDBG-DR that help disaster-impacted low-income Americans establish housing stability and improve their life outcomes.
Biden Declares Major Disaster for Louisiana
Yesterday, the Biden Administration approved a major disaster declaration for the state of Louisiana, due to the devastating impact of Hurricane Ida. This declaration will allow for the release of federal funds and in the form of federal disaster assistance to be made available to individuals and communities affected by the hurricane. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Enterprise Community Partners Launch Climate Resilience Academies
The impacts of our changing climate worsen the affordable housing crisis, putting millions of households at risk of displacement. To assist owners and operators of public housing agencies ensure that their properties are more resilient to environmental risks, Enterprise Community Partners is launching its newest initiative, Climate Resilience Academies.
Participants will have access to free technical assistance to improve portfolio resilience to future threats, and incorporate community resilience strategies. Focus areas will be tailored to regional-specific needs, and will include:
- Assessing portfolio risk.
- Building and retrofitting new and existing housing.
- Understanding federal assistance programs and how to access them.
- Incorporating community engagement and cultural resilience strategies.
The pilot academy will begin this fall, taking place virtually in the Southeast, and traveling from there to other regions around the country.
Applications are open now for organizations in the Southeast – North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Florida – with a special focus on Georgia and Florida. Applications are due by Wednesday, September 1. Click here to apply.
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