Housing, loan agencies send representatives to hurricane relief centers

As hurricane relief efforts continue, agencies are sending representatives to disaster recovery centers to help evacuees find homes and get back on their feet financially.

"We understand the pain that these families are going through," said Alphonso Jackson, secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, in a statement. "We are committed to giving those families the security of having a roof over their heads as soon as possible-even if it's a temporary solution."

In an effort to "meet the immediate housing needs of those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed," HUD is sending employees to Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster field offices, Jackson announced. The housing agency is also compiling inventories of empty multifamily housing, public housing units and other vacant homes that could provide temporary shelter.

HUD also is urging lenders to go easy on hurricane victims and is calling on the homebuilding industry to provide construction materials, workers and counseling for displaced homeowners. Recipients of community development grants will be allowed to reprogram the money and channel the funds to relief efforts, so long as they submit a request, Jackson said.

Meanwhile, the Small Business Administration is sending loan officers to the FEMA centers. The officers will help disburse loans of up to $200,000 each to repair damaged homes, and of up to $40,000 for replacement of personal property including furniture and clothing. Small companies can apply for up to $1.5 million to fix offices, machinery and damaged inventory.

"We will be swift in our efforts," said SBA Administrator Hector Barreto, in a statement. "We've been there before, and we're ready to provide recovery aid again."

SBA provided $2.1 billion to help to 64,500 home and business owners in the aftermath of hurricanes last summer, Barreto noted.

The Labor Department is pitching in with grants to help displaced workers earn money while they're searching for permanent jobs. The National Emergency Grants will help states pay citizens who assist in the cleanup. Initial installments of $1.3 million in Alabama and $16.6 million in Mississippi already have been released.

The Mississippi disbursement will be used to create up to 10,000 temporary jobs for people providing "food, shelter, and other services to fellow Mississippians," Labor announced. State officials will administer the grants.

Further information on these efforts and the benefits available can be found on the HUD, SBA and Labor Department Web sites. Agencies also are referring victims to the FEMA site and its toll-free number (1-800-621-FEMA) for details on the relief centers.