The Road Home Program Application Deadline is July 31, 2007

WHEREAS, hurricanes Katrina and Rita contributed to the overall devastation of communities throughout the state of Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, the kind of devastation caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita has never been seen before; and

WHEREAS, never before in America's history has any state been forced to rebuild so many homes so quickly; and

WHEREAS, 780,000 Louisiana residents were temporarily displaced from their homes and evacuated to communities throughout these United States; and

WHEREAS, 123,000 homes and 82,000 rental units were destroyed throughout the state of Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), its members, and its units across the country have come to the aid of Louisiana residents; and

WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Louisiana has created a housing recovery program implemented by the state of Louisiana for its residents through homeowner eligibility grants, from funding made available by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through its Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) funds; and

WHEREAS, eligible homeowners have until July 31; 2007 to submit an application; and

WHEREAS, the majority of persons still displaced by hurricane Katrina and Rita were renters and not property owners and are not covered by the Louisiana Road Home Program application deadline of July 31, 2007.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP encourages its members and units to serve as an advocate and informational source to direct Louisiana residents and homeowners to make applications to The Road Home Program to determine their eligibility; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that they are made aware of the application deadline of July 31, 2007; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that all Units of the NAACP take up the action alert in support of HR 1227 which passed the U.S. House of Representatives in March 2007 and needs to pass the Senate in order for the majority of those displaced to exercise their right to return to their homes in the Gulf Coast region.