Friday, September 28, 2007

National Media is Casting a Spotlight on the Mississippi Coast’s Housing Crisis

Official research and national media coverage are putting a spotlight on the Mississippi Gulf Coast's dire need for affordable housing.

This week the nation’s press is providing fresh insights into Mississippi’s troubled Hurricane Katrina housing recovery.  On Thursday, September 28 the New York Times editorial More Housing Woes in Mississippi focused on Mississippi’s proposal to divert $600 million from housing recovery funds to a major expansion of the port at Gulfport and urged greater Congressional oversight of the state’s activities. Also on Thursday, the Biloxi Sun Herald’s RAND Study: Affordable housing lags in Mississippi’s post-Katrina recovery explored the newly-released report documenting the affordable housing recovery squeeze and forecasting “years of work and funds to overcome the Coast’s housing woes.”

On Friday, September 28, features in USA Today’s Tale of the Trailer and the Washington Post’s A Moving Exhibit of Neglect took readers inside the plight of coastal FEMA trailer occupants facing eviction by local municipalities.

According to Biloxi-based Mississippi Center for Justice staff attorney Reilly Morse, “Together, this fresh wave of information and attention reinforces our urgent cry that affordable housing remain Mississippi’s top priority for the remaining Katrina-recovery CDBG funds.”

Meanwhile, in Washington Congress is considering legislation for continuing recovery work in the gulf region. While Rep. Gene Taylor’s success on the insurance bill (HR 3121) is capturing well-deserved attention, Gulf Coast advocates are continuing to press for additional legislation to address remaining, but unmet, needs.

Here are links to the stories and study listed above:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/opinion/27thur2.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-09-27-trailers_N.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/27/AR2007092702405.html
http://www.equityandinclusion.org/
http://www.nlihc.org/detail/article.cfm?article_id=4584&id=27
http://www.sunherald.com/306/story/151750.html
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