Over 1,300 area residents on the ‘Road Home’

Many people around the Tri-parishes are facing a difficult choice: take their federally allocated money and rebuild and chance another storm or move, leaving the only life they’ve ever known.

As the Road Home program rolls on, picking up speed, more and more homeowners applying for federal grants will have to make the choice.

Residents whose homes were disheveled by hurricanes Katrina or Rita may qualify for up to $150,000 and can make one of three choices once appraisers come up with the total benefit calculation: fix the home and stay, sell and buy another in Louisiana, or sell and move out of state.

Those homeowners who chose to move out-of-state will receive a 40 percent reduction of their total calculation.

As of Dec. 7., the program reported receiving as many as 86,422 applications. Of those 1,008 Terrebonne Parish residents had applied, 218 from Lafourche and 167 from St. Mary.

Nearly 1,000 additional applications were received between Dec. 7 and Dec. 12, bringing the total number to 87,303. A parish breakdown was not available as of press.

Of the total number who came to a decision in Terrebonne Parish, so far, three families decided to pack-up and move out of state. Some 705 residents made a choice to stay and 124 chose to sell and move elsewhere within Louisiana’s borders. The remaining storm victims have not made a choice or information remains unavailable.

One Lafourche family will sell their home and leave the state, while 21 will sell but stay in Louisiana. Road Home officials said 166 families decided to rebuild their current homestead.

No residents chose to the move-and-sell option in St. Mary Parish; only 17 homeowners decided to sell while 111 plan to use the money to fix homes.

The Road Home Program has calculated over $800 million worth of benefits after application assessments, and the average Louisiana household has received an estimate of $78,714.

“What happens after homeowners meet with a Road Home advisor is all information is compiled and a letter is sent declaring how much each owner will be awarded,” said Carol Hector-Harris, spokesperson for the Road Home Program. “When they receive that letter they have 30 days to make their decision.”

Hector-Harris said while families are reviewing their letters, advisors review all information n from insurance claims to FEMA awards to property ownership n to make sure everything checks out and homeowners receive the deserved award.

“We generally give homeowners 30 days in order to keep the process moving along, but if for some reason they need more time, they can issue that request in writing,” she said.

Of the 87,303 applications received from the program’s inception in August, only 82 awards, totaling more than $4.3 million, have been administered for spending.

“Certainly with over 10,000 letters recently sent, we will see that number increase,” said Hector-Harris. “The speed in which money is awarded is now up to homeowners. Once the decision is made, the award is theirs.”