MDA: Progress being made on post-Katrina housing crisis

By MICHAEL NEWSOM
SUN HERALD

JACKSON — Representatives of the Mississippi Development Authority told lawmakers Thursday that despite the bureaucratic federal regulations, the state is poised to make significant progress on the post-Katrina housing crisis soon.Gray Swoope, executive director of MDA, said Thursday in a meeting with the Mississippi House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee that a major hurdle in the process would likely be cleared on Friday.

The state is spending a portion of $5.4 billion in federal Community Development Block Grants on housing.

The state will receive a verdict Friday on the complicated environmental assessments that are needed so two key housing programs can move forward. Agencies are expected to approve plans for the small rental program, which would create up to 7,500 small rental homes in less than a year, and also the elevation grant program, which gives homeowners money to raise their home to meet the new FEMA flood zones regulations.

MDA has turned its attention recently to the later phases of Gov. Haley Barbour’s housing plan, which aims to deliver about 21,000 total units, including the 7,500 proposed small rental units.

“If we continue this year on the path that we are on, and add 20,000 units, we will get over the hump pretty quickly,” Swoope said.

Swoope, who met with lawmakers, said the process has been difficult for his office as there hasn’t been enough workers to handle all of the duties the unprecedented programs entail, but recently he has added more staff to help.

The Sun Herald will have more on this story in Friday’s paper.