BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – Mobile homes will fill front yards across southern Louisiana again, just like after Hurricane Katrina, as federal authorities bring in temporary housing for thousands of people displaced by catastrophic flooding.
These houses, though, will be on blocks and strapped down – not on wheels like the travel trailers of a decade ago.
As he announced the disaster housing plans Wednesday, Gov. John Bel Edwards described a “shelter at home” program as the more desirable option. Homeowners will be able to receive grants of up to $15,000 aimed at making houses habitable quickly so people can live inside while doing more extensive repairs.
“That’s where our people want to be. They want their kids back going to their schools. They want to live in their neighborhoods, their communities. And they want to attend their church,” the Democratic governor said.
Registration for the program begins Monday, but the grants can only help homeowners with less catastrophic damage. Those with more severe destruction will have access to mobile homes not unlike the trailers used for Katrina victims.