[StBernard] The LRA Progress Report - November 9, 2006

[Westley Annis]

In This Issue:

Road Home to Take Applications Over the Phone, Open Assistance Center in Houston, Increase Slots for Appointments

NOLA Bound to Host "Plan Your Way Home Party" 

New Web site to Match Renters with Affordable Housing

Southwest La. Health Care Redesign Committee to Meet Next Week

Upcoming Meetings





Road Home to Take Applications Over the Phone, Open Assistance Center in Houston, Increase Slots for Appointments

Homeowners may now apply to The Road Home program over the telephone, complete the application and schedule an appointment at any one of the 11 Housing Assistance Centers located across Louisiana and in Houston.

The Road Home program will open its first out-of-state assistance center in Houston on November 16 for displaced residents still living there and elsewhere in Texas.

Louisiana residents currently residing in Texas who have already applied but have yet to schedule appointments may do so by calling 1-888-ROAD-2-LA. Those who have made appointments at a Louisiana Road Home center have the option of rescheduling those appointments for the Houston center. 

In an effort to reach homeowners more quickly, The Road Home program has increased the number of housing advisors at all of its centers. 

Homeowners who have scheduled appointments for December and beyond may now call the hotline to reschedule their appointment! for a time as early as next week. So far, 19,356 homeowners have met with housing advisors.

To start your application to The Road Home program, visit www.road2LA.org <http://www.road2LA.org>  or call 1.888.ROAD.2.LA (1.888.762.3252). TTY callers use 711 relay or 800.846.5277. 


NOLA Bound to Host "Plan Your Way Home Party" 

NOLA Bound and the La. Family Recovery Corps. invite New Orleans residents living in Houston to the "Plan Your Way Home Party" on Sunday, November 12 from 3 - 8 p.m. at the Red Cat Jazz Cafe. 

Residents are invited to watch the Saints vs. Steelers game on a big-screen television and enjoy New Orleans style food and refreshments. During halftime, NOLA Bound will introduce a new program designed to help displaced residents make an informed decision about when to return home. 

After the game, Ms. Dupre of the Tom Joyner Morning Show will give a special performance with music by Phillip Manuel. 

The Red Cat Jazz Cafe is located at 924 Congress St. in Houston. 


New Web site to Link Renters with Affordable Housing 

Launched last week, LAHousingSearch.org will match property owners who have rental property with individuals seeking to rent an apartment or house. 

The new web site gives rental property owners, including providers of critically needed affordable and special needs housing, a place to advertise their properties at no cost, while allowing renters to easily find property that fits their needs. 

The site offers easy access to managing, adding and updating property listings and advertising company information. The 24-hour site is now available for owners to begin listing properties. There is also a bilingual call center for those who do not use the Internet.

For more information, visit LAHousingSearch.org <http://www.LAHousingSearch.org> .



Southwest La. Health Care Redesign Committee to Meet Next Week


The Region 5 Health Care Redesign Committee will have its second meeting on Monday, November 11 from 5-7 p.m. in the Contraband Room of the Lake Charles Civic Center. 

Formed by the 2006 Louisiana Legislature, the group's mission is to develop a blueprint to improve the health care system in Southwest Louisiana. The blueprint will serve as a guide to health care policy and system development for the recovery and rebuilding of health care in the hurricane-affected areas of the state. 

For more information on the full Redesign Collaborative or the Region 5 Health Care Redesign Committee, please click here <http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/?ID=288> . 


Upcoming meetings: 

Monday, November 13, 2006 
Event: Louisiana Housing Finance Agency Board meeting 
Time: 11 a.m. 
Location: Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries Louisiana Room (1st Floor) 2000 Quail Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70808 

Monday, November 13, 2006 
Event: Region 5 Health Care Redesign Committee 
Time: 5 to 7 p.m. 
Location: Contraband Room of the Lake Charles Civic Center in Lake Charles, La. 

Friday, November 17, 2006 
Event: Southwest Louisiana Task Force meeting 
Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
Location: Grand Lake High School Elementary Library, 1039 Highway 384, Cameron Parish, La. 

Tuesday, November 21, 2006 
Event: LRA Environmental Task Force meeting 
Time 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 
Location: Department of Environmental Quality Headquarters Room 1051 of the Galvez Building
602 N. Fifth Street in Baton Rouge, LA 70802 

Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Event: LRA Economic & Workforce Development Task Force meeting 
Time: 1:30 p.m. 
Location: Governor's Press Room, 4th Floor of the State Capitol in Baton Rouge 

Thursday, December 14, 2006 
Event: LRA Board of Directors meeting 
Time: 9 a.m. 
Location: St. Tammany Parish (exact location to be determined)