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Policies and Resources

Road Home policies and procedures, as well as sample benefit letters, for the homeowner program are provided below. Advisors are available to review and explain the information contained in options letters, answer questions about the closing process, and provide follow-up explanation of other closing documents after settlement. To reach an advisor, call 1-888-ROAD-2-LA (1-888-762-3252). TTY callers use 711 relay or 1-800-846-5277.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download, to open and print several of the documents (PDFs) on this page. Download and install the free Adobe Readerexits Road Home web site program.

 

Policies: Download updated policies and procedures.

Power of Attorney Form (PDF/26k): For Option 1 applicants, download this form to legally act on behalf of an eligible homeowner who cannot act for themselves.

Sample Benefit Letters: Download current and past sample benefit letters.

Road Home Resources: Download helpful documents and visit other helpful resources.

Road Home Homeowner Program Frequently Asked Questions : Download answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Closing Documents: Download documents concerning the closing process.

Web Sites/Organizations: Visit helpful Web sites.

FEMA Resources: Browse FEMA Resources.

Hurricane Facts and Figures: View Hurricane statistics.

Policies
(*Policies are subject to change in order to improve and streamline processes.)
  • Appeals and Second Disbursements (PDF/54k): Homeowners have the right to appeal The Road Home Homeowner Assistance program’s award decision. This document provides a complete overview and set of instructions.

  • Applicant Process to Request a Copy of their File (PDF/33k): Procedure for a Road Home applicant to request their file.

  • Assignment of Grant Proceeds Form (PDF/70k): Use this form to transfer original benefits to a new homeowner.

  • Assignment of Rights Fact Sheet (PDF/46k): Assignment is the act of transferring financial benefits of The Road Home program from the original eligible homeowner to a new homeowner. These rights can only be assigned one time.

  • Assignment of Rights FAQs (PDF/42k): This document provides answers to frequent questions regarding assignment.

  • Homeowner Program Policies (PDF/455k) The latest program policies as of May 6, 2008.

  • Income Policies (PDF/178k):The Road Home income policies describe how the Homeowner Assistance program collects income information from applicants as well as the documentation required for those applicants who would like to be considered for the Additional Compensation Grant component of the Homeowner Assistance program. Income is not considered in the calculation of the Additional Compensation Grant or the Elevation Compensation as of April 23, 2008.

Road Home Resources

  • A Guide to Elevating Your Home (PDF/249K): A list of benefits, general information, and guidelines.

  • A Guide to Building an Energy-Efficient Home (PDF/237K): The benefits of properly-installed insulation, general information on insulation, and how ENERGY STAR qualified products improve energy efficiency.

  • Road Home Evaluation Fact Sheet (PDF/255K): Questions and answers about the purpose, types, procedures, and other information about Road Home evaluations.

  • Road Home Brochure (PDF/2MB): Downloadable brochure with program details.

  • Design and Construction Resourcesexits Road Home web site: Insights into construction and repair considerations, such as: to repair, restore and live in the damaged home; to tear down the damaged home and build a new one on the same property; or to leave and build on a lot that has no structure or utilities in place. From the LSU AgCenter and The Road Home.

  • Road Home Help flyer (PDF/247k): Download this flyer to learn who can help you with your application or Road Home process, options letters, closing papers, legal help or bank problems.

Road Home Homeowner Program Frequently Asked Questions Handout

  • First Appointment (PDF/ 36k): Find out and download what you should bring to your first appointment.

  • Grant Disbursal (PDF/ 38k): Download answers to Frequent Questions about the Grant Disbursal process.

  • Mobile Homes and Condos (PDF/53k): Download answers to Frequent Questions about policies concering Mobile Homes and Condos.

  • Owner Passes Away (PDF/50k): Download answers to frequent questions about issues concerning an owner passing away.

  • Pre-Storm Value (PDF/35k): Download answers to frequent questions concerning Pre-Storm Value.

  • Program and Covenant Requirements (PDF/53k): Download answers to frequent questions concerning Program and Covenant Requirements.

  • Subrogation (PDF/38k): Download answers to frequent questions concerning Subrogation.

  • Estimated Cost of Damage (PDF/40k): Download answers to frequent questions concerning Estimated Cost of Damage.

  • SBA (PDF/40k): Download answers to frequent questions concerning SBA loans.

  • Compensation Grant (PDF/1MB): Download answers to frequent questions concerning The Road Home Compensation Grant.

  • FEMA (PDF/48k): Download answers to frequent questions concerning FEMA.

  • Closing and Title (PDF/62k): Download answers to Closing and Title frequent questions.

SAMPLE Road Home Letters

Currently, The Road Home is sending out the letters below. The letters have been simplified and improved based upon feedback The Road Home has received from applicants. These letters also include information about your choices if you believe your award amount is incorrect. If you believe your award amount is incorrect, you may accept your award amount now, go to closing and receive your current funding while The Road Home reviews your award calculation and determines whether your award calculation needs to be revised.

  • Benefit Election Letter (PDF/546k): This letter will be sent to homeowners who qualify for homeowner assistance funds and will explain the options available to them.

  • Road Home Elevation Program Information Letter (PDF/159k): This letter will be sent to eligible Road Home applicants who selected Option 1 and whose homes are located in areas where FEMA has issued Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) maps.

  • Elevation Allowance Letter (PDF/620k): This letter will be sent to homeowners who do not qualify for a Compensation Grant or an Affordable Compensation Loan from the program but are determined eligible for funding to help elevate their home.

  • No Funding Letter (PDF/452k): This letter will be sent to homeowners who do not qualify for homeowner assistance program funds based on the information they submitted.

Closing Documents
The following documents are sample materials that you may expect to see at your Road Home closing.

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Leased Land
The following closing documents are signed and executed for applicants whose damaged homes are located on leased land.

 Web Sites/Organizations

  • HUD's Office of Inspector General (OIG) exits Road Home web site: Takes reports of fraud, waste, abuse, and serious mismanagement in HUD-funded programs and refers the allegations to OIG investigators/auditors or HUD program officials to ensure that the allegations are addressed.

  • Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) exits Road Home web site : The planning and coordinating body that was created in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita to plan for the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana.

  • LouisianaRebuilds.info exits Road Home web site: A portal that provides an entrance to the services, resources, support networks, and other vital information to help residents and businesses rebuild their lives, their communities, and their state.

  • Louisiana Office of Community Development (OCD) exits Road Home web site: The OCD’s three sections – the Community Development Section, the Disaster Recovery Unit, and the State Grants Management Section – work to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Louisiana.

  • OCD Disaster Recovery Unit exits Road Home web site: The unit created by the Louisiana Commissioner of Administration to administer relief funds issued by HUD and Congress.
     
  • Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Residential Energy Programs exits Road Home web site: Provides information and tips for homeowners on energy efficiency, details about building energy efficiency into a home, energy efficiency calculators, energy rebate information and loan information.
       FEMA Resources

Hurricane Facts and Figures

Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005, in southeastern Louisiana, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 105 miles from the center of the storm. Coastal storm surge flooding of 20 to 30 feet above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves, occurred near and to the east of where the center of the storm made landfall.

Hurricane Rita made landfall on September 24, 2005, near the Louisiana-Texas border with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. Reaching Category 5 status while in the Gulf of Mexico but weakening to Category 3 before landfall, sustained, hurricane-force winds extended more than 150 miles inland.

(Storm information compiled from reports published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

The kind of devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita has never been seen before:

  • 780,000 of us temporarily displaced from our homes
  • At least 123,000 homes suffered major or severe damage
  • 82,000 rental units suffered major or severe damage
  • More than 18,000 businesses destroyed
  • About $25 billion in insured losses
  • In just six months since the storms, workers removed 25 times more debris from Louisiana than was removed from the World Trade Center site.

The maps below, from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), are intended to help state and local officials, as well as homeowners, to identify existing and increased flood hazards caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and to use this information during recovery and redevelopment to avoid future flood damages.