BILOXI (AP) — The state will fall short of replacing the number of public housing units available to Mississippi’s poorest residents along the Gulf Coast before Hurricane Katrina, according to the Mississippi Development Authority.
The agency is sending $110 million in federal funds to four housing authorities to replace public housing lost to Katrina. Although 1,931 units were lost, MDA officials say only 1,588 units for the very poor will be rebuilt.
More than 1,200 of those already have been completed, mostly in Gulfport and Biloxi. Bay St. Louis and Waveland are still without any replacement public housing, although construction has started.
A recent report by the inspector general for the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development criticized the state agency for failing to require complete quarterly progress reports from the housing authorities.
MDA said the reports are incomplete under the terms of its agreements, but insists this is justified because the information has in some instances already been reported, or will be available when units are completed.
Bill Thompson, MDA’s deputy compliance officer, said once report forms were drawn up, it became clear some information did not need to be reported quarterly.
‘‘There was no need to continuously report redundant or extraneous matter,’’ he said.
But housing advocates say they have been unable to track how much housing is being replaced for the very poor. MDA routinely reports the number of units being constructed, but the total includes public housing for residents who earn up to 60, or in some cases 80 percent, of area median income.
About 500 housing vouchers have been sent to south Mississippi for displaced residents to rent private apartments. But housing advocates say vouchers often don’t work for the poorest residents, who are unable to afford first and last month’s rent, plus utilities.
Reilly Morse, an attorney who heads the Mississippi Center for Justice in Biloxi, said the HUD report shows the state has failed to ensure housing authorities are meeting the needs of the poorest with federal Katrina money.
‘‘Public housing is so important,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s meeting that threshold for the folks who, if we didn’t have public housing, would be homeless.’’
———
Information from: The Sun Herald, http://www.sunherald.com
Local News
Agency: Not all pre-Katrina housing replaced
- Local News
-
-
Morning update for Wednesday, May 30, 2012
-
In memory of those who died
A 21-gun salute is a common part of any Memorial Day program.
But the release of 21 snow white doves representing the peace we enjoy today because of those who have fallen in battle was a rare treat of the Second Annual Memorial Day Program held Monday afternoon at Magnolia Cemetery in Meridian. -
Choctaw Expressions to be showcased
The Mississippi Craft Center will present Choctaw Expressions as the featured cultural and historical exhibit for the month of June.
The presentation will showcase the rich and unique heritage of the Mississippi Choctaw Indians with traditional cultural arts and artifacts. The exhibition is set to open to the public on Friday, June 1 at 10 a.m. The Mississippi Craft Center, located in Ridgeland, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission and will highlight this unique event through June 30. -
Earth’s Bounty Festival Saturday
Residents in the Meridian area will have the opportunity to purchase locally grown or made products throughout the summer and fall through the Earth’s Bounty festival.
The expanded version of the current farmer's market will take place on the first Saturday of every month from June-November at Singing Brakeman Park in Meridian near Union Station. -
WWI soldier’s family receives Purple Heart
About three weeks before the end of WW I, two young officers with the 320 Machine Gun Battalion crept through the battered moonscape of France on a mission to find new positions for their weapons.
-
Man dies of gunshot wound
Investigators with the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department are investigating a shooting incident that occurred Saturday morning in which one person died.
- Marriages & Divorces: Sunday, May 27, 2012
-
Leading Edges uses technology to enhance advertising
If local advertising agency Leading Edges has its way, pretty soon you will be using your iPhone or iPad to bring its clients' ads to life.
-
Meridian soldier to receive posthumous Purple Heart
- Partnership in place for safety blitz
- More Local News Headlines
-

