HUD to pay hurricane victims' mortgages [if they move back. hmmmm.]

upi via email no link | 12/5/5

[NativeNewYorker]

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Federal officials have set aside $200 million to help homeowners whose residences were damaged by recent hurricanes.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development said Monday it will make mortgage payments for up to one year for disaster victims with mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration who want to move back home.

To be eligible for this mortgage assistance, families must have homes that are "repairable" within an "adequate" time and in a presidentially declared disaster area designated for individual assistance.

Potential aid recipients must have funds from insurance proceeds, loans or personal resources to complete the repairs and are currently employed or are very likely to return to work within a short period of time.

FHA-insured families in disaster areas whose houses are not damaged, but have lost their source of income as a result of the hurricanes, will also be eligible for this mortgage relief. These borrowers must be able to demonstrate that their primary source of employment was located in an area designated for individual assistance, that they suffered a reduction in income that makes them unable to pay their mortgage and that they are likely to be reemployed within a reasonable period of time.

[caryatid]

It is frustrating and there are days when life seems to be an ordeal ... and, then, there are the days when you laugh for no reason, or your kids make you realize that they are all that really matter. You will make it through these difficult times. We all will ... but the Katrina mess promises to get worse ... before it ever gets better ... if it ever does.

I suspect that Katrina may cause this country to reach an unexpected "tipping point". We can at least hope that it will.

[i_dont_chat]

You know better than me about the percentage of homeownership in New Orleans.

But I stand my observation (Message #11) that not many homeowners will meet the criteria set by HUD for getting their mortgage assistence, as being reported by UPI.

Specifically, homes must be repaired within a certain time, the people must have their own funds to complete the repairs, amd they must have employment.

Judging by photos I've seen of the damaged homes, I don't think this is going to be very helpful.

I ask you, what does percent of home ownership have to do with this assessment?

[RetiredArmy]

Hang tough! You sound like you are doing a great job. You should be proud of your accomplishments. My ex decided she didn't want to be married or be a mother and walked. I was 12 years into a 20 year Army career, and suddenly had three kids, ages 13, 11 and 6 to care for. The oldest a son, the other two, daughters. My 11 year old daughter was my salvation. Without her to help me, I would have been sunk. But, I hung in and did what I had to do. I finally retired mainly because the Army wanted me to go to Korea for a year without them, and I had no where but a 70 plus year old mother to leave them with. So, I called it a career. Hang Tough!

[Saints fan]

It must be nice lay up in the bed all day saying gimmee, gimmee, gimmee.........

You people have NO FREEKIN IDEA about the people of New Orleans or what is going on down here.You are some of the most ignorant people I have ever seen

[caryatid]

I ask you, what does percent of home ownership have to do with this assessment?

Percent of home ownership is directly responsive to your erroneous assumption that most of the people affected live in housing projects [public housing].

Further, home ownership is the first qualifier for eligibility for the program you are discussing. Without that, all else is regardless.

Obviously, for the Lower 9th Ward, a poor neighborhood that was one of the worst affected by the flooding ... this program is almost a joke.

I think we have probably discussed this adequately by now.

[Polyxene]

"This appropriation will make Boston's "Big Dig" seem like a minor ripoff and elevate crookedness to a new level."

Double-Dog Dittos to that! That sucking sound you hear is your tax dollars going down the Nawlins sink hole.

[caryatid]

Without that, all else is regardless.

Well that doesn't make much sense!
It was supposed to read:

Without that, all else is irrelevant.

[WasDougsLamb]

You people have NO FREEKIN IDEA about the people of New Orleans or what is going on down here.You are some of the most ignorant people I have ever seen


-----Do you lay in bed and not work all day long while the government and taxpayers support you? If this didn't apply to you, then obviously you are the ignorant one and cannot read a post.

[SweetCaroline]

You people have NO FREEKIN IDEA about the people of New Orleans or what is going on down here.You are some

Your right Saints fan, most of us really don't know more than what the media tells us. Could you, a resident I assume, tell us how you see it?

I'd be interested to learn the truth.

[Saints fan]

Just read my posts for the last month. It has frustrated me to no end that most people on this web site continue to refer to all New Orleanians as lazy,greedy,decadent, ungratefull ingrates.They think all New Orleans consists of is the French Quarter, Garden District, the Port and housing projects full of welfare slugs waiting for the government check.I've read posts that say very few of us are homeowners.Ive read posts that say we are too lazy to come back to clean our homes waiting for the elegals to do it for us. I've read posts that say we are not worthy of tax payer dollars to help us back on our feet. They say we are not worthy of help at all. They say we are stupid for living where we do. They say we would be stupid to try and rebuild our homes.I've read posts that say they ought to pave over the city or let the swamp reclaim the land. Several have said they don't give a crap about us anymore.

The truth SweetCaroline is that New Orleans does not flood every year. This is the first time I have had water in my house in my life time,49 years.The truth is that New Orleans is made up of tens of thousand s of good decent people just trying to survive a disaster the likes of this country has never seen before.80 % of the homes in this city was flooded. There is still no electricity, grocery stoors, gas stations, hospitals, doctors, or schools.This was a man made disaster. We survived the hurricane but not the criminal incompetence of the Army Corps of Engineers who designed and built the levees that broke.How would any of you people feel if your entire lives were turned completely upside down over night by the gross negligence of a government agency. And then log onto a web site that for years you have considered a safe haven of like minded souls only to read the crap I've read since Katrina? Thats been almost as hard to take as the total destruction of my city.

And no WasDougsLamb I don't spend all day laying around.I spend all day at my house trying to save whats left of my home.

[WasDougsLamb]

And no WasDougsLamb I don't spend all day laying around.I spend all day at my house trying to save whats left of my home.


---Then as my last post to you said, it DID NOT pertain to you and I didn't appreciate being called ignorant when my post was about the ones who ARE not trying to help themselves. From now on read my post and if it doesn't pertain to you, then go on to the next one. Being rude will not change ANYONES opinion.

[SweetCaroline]

Saints fan, I know there are those who have said all those things, because I have read the posts. May I apologize for their shortsightedness. Please understand there are also many compassionate people here that do care and that are concerned.

Those of us living in California get similar negative posts also. It makes me feel bad because I know there are many hard working conservative that live in this great state and I know there are more here on FreeRepublic that don't feel that way.

We need to understand it's not us the posters are upset about, but the liberal whiners and Government dependents who expect the state and Federal government to take care of their every need that the posters are attacking.

[Saints fan]

Point taken.

[Saints fan]

I appologise for being rude. That didn't used to be my way.

[caryatid]

RetiredArmy, I have driven i_dont_chat nearly crazy with a series of posts that should have been directed initially to you.

Please see Posts 11, 22 and 25.

Sorry i_dont_chat ... it has been an afternoon of constant interruptions ... but, no excuses ... I just posted to the wrong person.

Cheers to all!
caryatid

[WasDougsLamb]

---Totally fine. We all know you decent people down there are going through hell. Honestly. And I know you are having it rough trying to fix your home. You take care and try to have a Merry Christmas and I am sure next year will be better.

Lauranne & the girls

[ladyjane]

is there anything else we can possibly give them? free tuition? free electricity? free booze?

You forgot room service at the free hotel rooms, Louis Vuitton handbags and lap dances.

[SweetCaroline]

We know you are frustrated and I'm sure we wish we could help. I pray it will get easier for you.

[Conservative Goddess]

Ping.

[Conservative Goddess]

"Why, in God's name, is the federal government paying people to move back into flood-prone area where they should not have been living in the first place."

That has been my question from the beginning. Why are we rebuilding a city that sits below sea level? Isn't that the very definition of stupidity?

Everyone who lives in a flood-prone area.....be it the coast or a river flood plain should be personally responsible for insuring the risk. Floods, earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, mine subsidence.....all of it foreseeable.....all of it should be privately insured.