[StBernard] FEMA AWARDS ALTERNATIVE HOUSING PILOT PROGRAM GRANT TO LOUISIANA

[Westley Annis]

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) is awarding $74,542,370 to the State of Louisiana under the $400
million Alternative Housing Pilot Program (AHPP) created by Section 2403 of
Public Law 109-234.  The grant will fund the Louisiana Katrina Cottage and
Carpet Cottage project.  

 

The Katrina Cottage is a single family manufactured home with a porch with
options of two and three bedroom layouts, which can be expanded as a
family's needs change.  The Carpet Cottage is a one story multifamily unit
that offers one, two, and four bedroom layouts.  The housing units have been
adapted to resemble historic Louisiana architectural styles. Neither housing
model requires heavy machinery or a large workforce to construct. The
Katrina Cottage can be assembled on-site, and the Carpet Cottage frames will
be assembled in local facilities and will be transported to the home site.
Both units are designed to be used in any setting, including individual
lots, as well as commercial, private, and group sites.  The Louisiana
project will create over 400 homes in "transitional communities," located
within Jackson Barracks, Lake Charles, Treme/Lafitte and Abbeville.  The
"transitional community" model anticipates utilizing site planning according
to smart growth principles to establish a sustainable mixed-use,
mixed-income neighborhood that fits into the fabric of the wider community.


 

Since the initial announcement of the Katrina Cottage and Carpet Cottage in
December 2006, FEMA and the State of Louisiana have been working together to
negotiate the terms and conditions of the award for the project and gather
the additional information needed to complete the grant award process.
Based on the information gathered during this process, FEMA is now prepared
to make the award to the State of Louisiana for the Katrina Cottage and
Carpet Cottage project. 

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact FEMA's Headquarters
Office of Legislative Affairs at (202) 646-4500.