The Housing Authority of Jefferson Parish (JPHA) will open its waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher Program via mail and internet.  JPHA will accept pre-applications either by mail or though our web site from November 23, 2009 through November 30, 2009.

You may go to our web site and fill out a pre-application (LINK REMOVED) or you can mail a request for an application to P O Box 2996, Gretna, La 70054. Your request for pre-application must be post marked between November 23, 2009 and November 30, 2009.

Those requesting a pre-application via mail, must be post marked between November 23, 2009 and November 30, 2009, and must contain the following info on the request:

Full name, complete mailing address, signature of person applying. If all three are not on the request, a pre-application will not be mailed out to you.

Families displaced by Katrina or Rita who were assisted through FEMA by previously living in a FEMA trailer or other assistance by FEMA will be allowed to submit an application until which time JPHA determines it has given adequate time for everyone in this profile to have made an application.

Pre-applications will only be accepted by mail at the address above or through our web site at www.jeffparishsection8.org.

LINK REMOVED for the online pre-application.

NO HAND DELIVERED PRE-APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT ANY JPHA OFFICES.

PRE-APPLICATIONS POSTMARKED OR SUBMITTED THROUGH THE WEB SITE BEFORE NOVEMBER 23, 2009 OR AFTER NOVEMBER 30, 2009 WILL NOT BE PROCESSED.

JPHA offers equal opportunity to all persons regardless of race, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, familial status, or gender identity or expression, and strives to prohibit discrimination in housing by any person.

BATON ROUGE, La. - State officials are hosting outreach fairs in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lake Charles this weekend in an effort to reach families who will transition off of the Disaster Housing Assistance Program on August 31, as well as those who are exiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency's trailer housing.

While outreach efforts have been ongoing since the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development agreed to extend the program in February, some DHAP residents could not be contacted or have not reached out for further assistance.

"It is critical that everyone in DHAP and those who are leaving FEMA trailers learn about these programs that can assist their transition to permanent housing," said Paul Rainwater, executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. "With the last DHAP payments being made in August, and the FEMA trailer program having ended in May, we encourage anyone who does not have permanent housing in place to attend."

The fairs will be held at the following times and locations:
• New Orleans
Saturday, July 11, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Lindy C. Boggs International Conference Center at UNO
2045 Lakeshore Dr.

• Baton Rouge
Saturday, July 11, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Independence Park, Room 137
7500 Independence Blvd.

• Lake Charles
Sunday, July 12, 1-5 p.m.
Lake Charles Civic Center
Jean Lafitte Room, 3rd Floor
900 Lake Shore Dr.

Participating state agencies include the Louisiana Recovery Authority, the Office of Community Development, Department of Social Services, Department of Health and Hospitals, Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency. Representatives from HUD and FEMA will also be present.

Families who cannot attend a resource fair can call 1-866-808-3487 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to have their questions answered.

There are currently 12,085 DHAP families in the state, with the majority - 6,526 households - in Orleans Parish and the surrounding areas. Jefferson parish has 2,295 families; St. Bernard has 975. There are 558 families in East Baton Rouge Parish receiving DHAP assistance, and 279 in Calcasieu Parish.

CONTACT:
Christina Stephens
Louisiana Recovery Authority
225.603.3896
christina.stephens@la.gov

Did you know that 30-40% of heating and cooling is lost through air leakage in your home? This air leakage occurs mainly in your floors, walls and ceilings. Want to know how to keep air conditioned air where you want it? LSU AgCenter Associate Bill Robinson will help you to understand some of the choices you can make to insulate, air seal, and keep the heat out of your home in the summer. This workshop will cover how insulation, air sealing and radiant barriers will help you lower your energy costs and increase your comfort while maintaining a durable home.

The workshop is sponsored by the Rebuilding Information Station in collaboration with the BuildSmart Learning Center.

Location:
BuildSmart Learning center located at 1001 S. Broad St (under the Broad St overpass).

Contact Information:
Call the Rebuilding Information Station at (504) 280-5577.