NAACP Legal Defense Fund Wins Relief for Victims of Post- Katrina/Rita Housing Discrimination

Today a federal court in Washington, DC, prevented Louisiana from continuing to utilize a discriminatory formula as part of the federally-funded “Road Home” Program, which was designed by the Louisiana Recovery Authority and approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) to aid homeowners in their efforts to rebuild in the wake of devastating damage resulting from Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.

With $11 billion in federal funds, the Road Home Program awards grants to Louisiana homeowners whose homes were damaged by the storms in 2005 using one of two formulas: either the pre-storm value of the home in question, or the cost of repairs, whichever is lower. In today’s ruling, the Court determined that using the pre-storm value of the home to calculate grant awards likely creates a discriminatory impact on African-American homeowners, as black homeowners’ grants are far more likely to be based on the lower, pre-storm value of their homes rather than the cost of repairing the damage to their homes – even when the damage sustained and the cost of repair is the same. This disparity means that African-American homeowners are likely to have bigger gaps in the resources necessary to rebuild their homes. In its order, the Court granted the plaintiffs’ request to prevent Louisiana officials from using pre-storm value to calculate any future Road Home grant awards.

“It is our hope that this is the first step in truly getting folks on the road home. Today’s ruling is a rebuke of HUD and Louisiana. The flawed Road Home Program is part of the reason why the pace of recovery has been so slow five years after the storms ravaged the Gulf Coast,” said John Payton, NAACP LDF President and Director-Counsel.

Last month the plaintiffs filed a separate motion for preliminary injunction asking for a freeze in spending surplus Road Home funds until the conclusion of the pending lawsuit, so that the surplus funds could be used to make up the difference to those families who suffered discrimination. The Court denied that motion but found a “strong inference” of discrimination. Today’s decision does not address those who already received funding under the program, but prevents the discriminatory formula from being applied to future grants.

The plaintiffs in the case are the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center, the National Fair Housing Alliance, and individual homeowners representing others who suffered discrimination. Lawyers from the law firms of Cohen, Milstein Sellers & Toll and WilmerHale served as co-counsel.

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NAACP Legal Defense Fund Testifies Before Congress on Discrimination in Katrina Related Housing Recovery Program

At a hearing before the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity of the House Committee on Financial Services on Thursday, Matthew Colangelo, Director of the NAACP LDF's Economic Justice Group, testified that federal hurricane recovery funds have been distributed in a way that unfairly excludes African American families from returning to their homes in New Orleans.

Colangelo testified before a congressional subcommittee regarding the Road Home Program, which was created by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) to help families that were displaced four years ago by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. With an $11 billion budget, the Road Home Program is the largest housing recovery program in American history. Colangelo testified that by linking housing assistance to the depressed values of black families' pre-storm segregated housing, HUD and the LRA have designed a program that awards disproportionately lower grants to African American homeowners, in violation of the Fair Housing Act and the Housing and Community Development Act.

In New Orleans, as in many cities, homes in predominantly African American communities had lower values than those in white communities, even when the condition, style, and quality of homes were comparable. As a result, African Americans were more likely to receive Road Home grants based on the depressed pre-storm value of their homes, rather than on the cost to repair their homes – leaving African American families far short of the resources they need to restore their homes and communities. This disparity is the subject of a class-action lawsuit that the NAACP LDF has filed in partnership with the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center, the National Fair Housing Alliance, and the law firm of Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll.

"The 111th Congress has a responsibility to ensure that our nation's largest housing recovery program does not go down in history as a government-sponsored act of housing discrimination," Colangelo testified.

Click here to read LDF's congressional testimony. Click here to read a copy of the complaint that LDF filed in federal court.

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The Mississippi State Conference NAACP Files Suit Against HUD Over Diversion of Hurricane Recovery Funds

Nearly $600 Million Meant for Affordable Housing Diverted to Port Expansion Project

(Jackson, Miss.) - The Mississippi State Conference NAACP, Gulf Coast Fair Housing Center and several individual residents today filed a lawsuit in Federal Court in Washington, D.C. against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The suit challenges HUDs approval of a plan submitted by the State to divert $600 million of federal hurricane recovery funds designated for affordable housing to finance the expansion of the Port of Gulfport.

"It is unfortunate that money earmarked for the recovery victims of Hurricane Katrina is now being taken away for the purpose of business development. Our suit contends that this is contrary to the primary purpose of the Congressional appropriation and violates the requirements of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program" said Derrick Johnson, State President of Mississippi NAACP.

Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Congress appropriated approximately $5.5 billion of the emergency recovery funds to Mississippi to address the critical housing needs in the hurricane damaged area, specifically affordable housing. Administration of this funding was to be overseen by HUD under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which includes requirements that use of these funds conform to the Fair Housing Act and be used primarily to benefit low- and moderate-income people.

The suit seeks a declaration by the court that HUD was required to review and assess the State of Mississippi's port expansion plan to determine whether the proposal complied with Fair Housing Act and low-to-moderate income benefit requirements. Additionally, the suit states and that HUD violated its duties by accepting the port expansion plan without conducting such a review. It seeks an order from the court prohibiting HUD from releasing or approving the obligation of any of the nearly $600 million in CDBG funds.

Included in the complaint are claims that HUD has also approved several waivers of the requirements, for programs totaling $4 billion, that 50 percent of the funds benefit low- and moderate-income people, leaving only half of the remaining $1.4 billion targeted for those persons. As a result, HUD has authorized Mississippi to drop its commitment to lower-income households affected by Katrina from 50 percent to 13 percent. In Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties, approximately 65 percent of the housing units exposed to the storm surge and more than 57 percent of the units exposed to flooding were occupied by households with incomes below the U.S. median household income level.

"This is in essence creating another disaster, only it's man-made. It's unconscionable that HUD would approve a plan that neglects tax-paying citizens", said James Crowell, a member of the NAACP National Board of Director and President of the Biloxi Branch and Katrina survivor. "The return of the $600 million to the housing budget would make it possible for our friends and neighbors to have somewhere to live," continued Crowell. "That is why this lawsuit is important for those of us who are still trying to recover from the impact of Hurricane Katrina."

"Through this lawsuit, we intend to enforce HUD's duty to ensure there will be housing choice for the thousands of households that Mississippi does not want to help," said Reilly Morse, Mississippi Center for Justice senior attorney. "The diversion of funds intended to rebuild safe, affordable housing for low-income, elderly and disabled people has shattered the promise of making affordable housing the priority of this recovery effort."

Attorneys from Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo, PC are working in conjunction with the Mississippi Center for Justice and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to represent the plaintiffs pro bono.


For more information contact: Derrick Johnson - Mississippi State Conference President at derrickjohnson@hotmail.com

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ACTION ALERT: Pressure needed on Congress to enact Katrina rebuilding legislation before adjourning

NAACP urges Congress to pass post-Katrina employment, rebuilding, and development legislation before the September Congressional adjournment.

The bill would create over 100,000 jobs, rebuild housing and infrastructure and advance Gulf Coast development.

THE ISSUE: Three years after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast region, there are still numerous unmet needs and challenges facing the residents of that area every day. Especially hard hit by the Hurricane were low-income and racial and ethnic minority Americans, and they continue to suffer disproportionately.

According to a recent survey, 4 in 10 New Orleans residents say their lives are still disrupted by the aftermath of the Hurricane, and more than 7 in 10 see little or no progress in making housing affordable or in controlling crime, which they view as the city's top problem. A majority of the people surveyed also see little or no progress in making medical services available, strengthening public schools, attracting jobs or rebuilding neighborhoods. A second survey, also released in early August of this year, found tens of thousands of blighted properties, a lack of affordable housing and thin public services continue to plague the city. Rents are 46 percent higher than before the storm. Perhaps most tragically, most of the New Orleans residents who responded to the survey felt that both Washington and the American public have largely forgotten them.

We need to show the people of New Orleans and the entire Gulf Coast region that the American public has not forgotten them; it is not too late to implement a plan that will help the region and most importantly the people who live there get back to their pre-Katrina way of life and to put safeguards in place against future calamities. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA) and 16 of her colleagues in the House of Representatives have co-sponsored H.R. 4048, the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act (a link to the bill is provided in the left sidebar). This legislation would provide federal money to employ a minimum of 100,000 Gulf Coast residents who would work on projects to rebuild, sustain and develop the Gulf Coast region.

Congress needs to take action now and reassure the people of the Gulf Region, as well as the rest of America, that we as a Nation do care. Congress is set to adjourn at the end of September, so it is especially urgent that we do this now.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ACTION WE NEED YOU TO TAKE!

And THANK YOU for your attention to this urgent matter!!!

If you have any questions, call Hilary Shelton at the NAACP Washington Bureau at (202) 463-2940.

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Red Cross 'Safe & Well' site ready for use during Hurricane Gustav

As Hurricane Gustav approaches, the American Red Cross is preparing for significant operations on the Gulf Coast concentrating efforts in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

The American Red Cross Safe and Well website allows those directly affected by a disaster to let loved ones know of their well-being. Residents of affected areas are encouraged to take advantage of the website by posting information as soon as possible; prior to evacuation if possible.

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The Safe and Well site is accessible at: http://www.redcross.org/ or http://www.safeandwell.org/. Those that do not have internet access can call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to register. (Follow the prompts for disaster information.)

Tech Tags: Hurricane+Gustav Gulf+Coast

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From the Convention: The complete list of all Resolutions considered at the 2008 NAACP Convention

Here is the complete list of all resolutions considered at the 2008 NAACP Annual Convention.

Note: Some resolutions were abbreiveated or excerpted for brevity

The Resolution process begins with a local unit (or branch) who drafts a proposed policy or resolution. That resolution must be approved by the general membership of that unit. The proposed resolution is then brought before the State Conference for ratification. Once ratified by the State Conference at it's quarterly meeting, the proposed resolution is then forwarded to the National Resolution committee where it is reviewed and prepared for the annual resolution session.


Within the resolution session, all registered voting delegates to the convention are able to stand up and speak to each proposed policy or initiative. After debate, each is brought to a vote and if successful, it becomes binding NAACP policy.


1. NAACP Centennial Commemoration by Local, State, and National Governmental Authorities Resolved: That all units of the NAACP shall petition their local, state, and national elected and appointed officials to issue proclamations dated February 12, 2009, honoring the NAACP and its work, and commemorating the NAACP's 100th anniversary.

2. Strengthening the African American Family
Resolved: That the NAACP in coalition with the faith community and other grassroots organizations lead a public campaign highlighting the need for promoting individual and collective community responsibilities along with public policies to assist African American families that alleviate the impact of criminal activity, inadequate health care and insufficient educational support on the African American community. And that the NAACP advocate through its units and promote activities that will strengthen and fortify the African American family structure.

3. Supporting continued sovereignty and Federal recognition of the Shinnecock Tribal Nation and the Unkechaug Tribal Nation
Resolved: That the NAACP will continue to support and advocate for all legitimate claims for Native American federal recognition in general, including the Shinnecock and Unkechang Nations and the protections for Native American burial grounds.

4. Honoring John Roberts "JR" Clifford
Resolved: That civil Rights Pioneer John Roberts "JR" Clifford will be honored along with others as the NAACP moves towards it centennial celebration

5. Promoting non-discriminatory adoption and usage of broadband Internet & information technologies
Resolved: That the NAACP shall object to any corporate or governmental policies that increase costs, impede deployment, discourage adoption and usage, limit consumer access, reduce local commentary, or State oversight or that of public utilities commissions, public hearings, or other forums for citizen input and reduce affordability of broadband technologies AND that the NAACP will call upon its members to educate themselves and others on the importance of adoption and usage of broadband technologies.

6. Release of William Mayo
Resolved: That Local and State units as well as the National office, will advocate for Federal Legislation that would provide for an automatic retrial when testimony offer at a jury trial that leads to a conviction is later recanted AND that NAACP units will assist the Cincinnati Branch as requested in calling for the release of Johnathan Mayo and Troy Davis from their wrongful incarcerations.

7. Jury Panels
Resolved: That units of the NAACP will recommend and advocate to State and Local officials to reevaluate and restructure Jury selection procedures to increase non-white representation in jury pools.

8. Abolition of Life Sentences for Juvenile defendants
Resolved: That NAACP Units should call upon their respective legislatures to abolish life sentences for juvenile defendants

9. NAACP Opposes the transfer of Youth to the Adult Criminal Justice System
Resolved: That the NAACP will work to end the excessive practice of youth being tried in the adult criminal justice system and to insure that young people are appropriately adjudicated in ways that enhance community rehabilitation, safety and stability, AND that the NAACP shall strongly oppose any policies, statutes, or laws that increase the number of youth transferred into the adult criminal justice system or the number of youth held in adult prisons or jails.

10. Hangman's Nooses as a Hate Crime
Resolved: That the NAACP shall adopt a position of zero tolerance in opposing the conduct of anyone who uses the hangman's noose to intimidate, threaten, or assault....

11. Privatizing and Outsourcing Manufacturing jobs in prisons is contributing to low wages.
Resolved: that NAACP units will advocate before Local, State, and Federal policy making bodies to adopt regulations that will require prisons and private contractors to pay a living wage, and that the money earned by prisoners shall be divided equally between an amount paid to the prisoners during their incarceration, a victims assistance fund, child support payments, and a trust fund to be made available to the prisoner upon release AND that units will advocate for legislation requiring Companies that utilize and benefit from prison labor to offer the same or commensurate health care and other benefits to inmates and their family members that said companies offer to their other employees.

12. Educational Improvements
Resolved: That the NAACP will reaffirm its efforts to advocate for the increased collection of and transparency in accountability data so that the public and the school systems become more aware of the race, origin, and class dimensions related to the allocation of various qualities of educational services AND that the NAACP should enter into litigation against any governmental agencies that refuse to provide proper educational opportunities.

13. Support of remedial Education for youth who are over the age of 18 and not in High School
Resolved: That NAACP units shall actively advocate for the continued funding of programs designed to ensure that remedial educational opportunities are available for persons over 18, who are lacking basic literacy and math skills.

14. Oppose Wal-mart and Other Retailers Unfair Labor Practices
Resolved: That the NAACP will challenge Wal-Mart and other retailers to overcome any of their practices that are inconsistent with the highest standards of Labor and Civil Rights, to ensure equal opportunity and equal pay for Women, people of color and other minorities, and work with local communities to effectively address Wal-Mart's and other retailers negative impact on issues like the environment and local businesses, and establish a "Buy American" program that annually increases the percentage of "Made in America" goods purchased by Wal-Mart and Other retailers to help protect American Jobs.

15. Workplace Bullying
Resolved: That NAACP Units at all levels will seek legislation at all appropriate levels to deem workplace bullying illegal.

16. An Act to Re-Affirm Resolutions previously adopted on Environmental Racism and to further oppose the planning and location of Level 4 Bio-Safety Laboratories and Hazardous facilities designated for densely populated areas.
Resolved: That the NAACP Re-Affirms all previous policies on Environmental racism (1993, 1996, 2000, & 2001) and that NAACP State and Local units should work with community organizations and citizens to prevent level 4 bio-safety laboratories and hazardous facilities from being placed within densely populated areas and shall advocate for legislation to prohibit the same.

17. Health Disparities
Resolved: That the NAACP will identify at least one county in each region where health disparities are most disproportionate among African Americans, poor people, and senior citizens and develop an advocacy, educational, and legal strategy to improved selected element of the system that are responsible for the disparity AND NAACP units at all levels will advocate to federal, state, and local governmental agencies and partner with different organizations or health care systems to establish and maintain programs that will bring information to teens, adults, ad families for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

18. The Impact of Autism
Resolved: The NAACP will lobby for increased Governmental spending for research on the causes and cure of Autism.

19. The NAACP supports efforts to further disaggregate Heathcare data by Race and Ethnicity
Resolved: That the NAACP supports efforts to ensure the accurate collection and reporting of data by heath care providers, programs, and plans about patients and the care they receive; broken down by race and ethnicity.

20. Support for Public Housing Residents
Resolved: That the National Office of the NAACP will encourage and support a Federal Policy that provides for "one for one" replacement of public housing units that are razed or demolished AND that NAACP units at all levels should monitor and pursue actions to ensure that the residents of Public Housing are afforded the full social, political, educational, and economic opportunities available for all residents throughout the nation.

21. Bylaws change - Advisors for Youth & College Chapters (Article V, Sections 10b, 12a, 12e, and 13)
Resolved: That all Faculty advisors, High School Chapter advisors, Youth Council advisors, and Junior Youth Council advisors shall serve as Ex-Officio members of their respective chapter or councils without voting rights.

22. Bylaws change - Disposition of records; Youth Units (Article VI, Section 3e, f, & g)
Resolved: Language added to the section which reads - All minutes and other official records are the property of the Youth Unit and shall be promptly transferred to the newly elected and qualified officers within 30 days after the election. Non-compliance with terms herein shall be considered conduct that is inimical to the best interests of the NAACP, meriting disciplinary action pursuant to Article X.

23. Bylaws change - Executive Committee in the Bylaws for Units (Article VIII, Section 1b)
Resolved: Language changed within the section - All references to Youth Councils replaced with references to Youth Units

24. Bylaws change - Youth Works committee (Article VIII, Section 51k)
Resolved: Language changed within the section - All references to Youth Councils replaced with references to Youth Units

25. Representation of behavior Not in the best interest of the association
Resolved: That the NAACP shall codify guidelines to become an appendage of the constitution and bylaws to highlight the penalties for infractions of the code of the NAACP

26. Peace Resolution
Resolved: that the NAACP actively engage , using its NGO status in the pursuit for peace and stability in Darfur AND that the NAACP request that the President of the United States advocate for peace and an end to the Human Rights abuses in China, Darfur, and Burma

27. Minority Business Participation in Government Contracts
Resolved: that the NAACP call upon Congress, the SBA, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy and all Federal Local ad State Agencies to: 1) promote the use of MBE's in Federal, State, and Local contract and sub-contracts; 2) provide more oversight and monitoring of contracts for compliance in using MBE and small disadvantaged businesses; 3) call for the enforcement of existing laws and penalties on agencies and prime contractors that fail to comply; and 4) that the federal government be precluded from suspending these requirements based upon exigent circumstances

28. Calling for the NAACP to begin mobilization efforts for Census 2010
Resolved: That each State/State Area conference designate a Census 2010 committee to assist units in their jurisdiction to ensure that information and resources are properly deployed AND that the NAACP will advocate to the US Congress and the US Department of Commerce Bureau of the Census that for the purposes of the 2010 census, that all prisoners be enumerated as residents of the census tract wherein they were domiciled at the time of their arrest and/or conviction

29. Supporting Legislation to create a Department of Peace and Non-Violence
Resolved: That the NAACP expresses its support for the enactment of H.R.808, to create a United States Department of Peace and Non-Violence.

30. NAACP calls for passage of New Federal Legislation to Regulate International Vulture Funds and prevent further Exploitation of poor and underdeveloped nations
-Point of Information- a Vulture fund is a financial organization that profits by buying up poor country debt in default on the secondary market for pennies on the dollar, then attempting to charge up to ten times the purchase price by suing the impoverished country in US or European courts.
Resolved: That the NAACP strongly supports forthcoming legislation and grassroots efforts to limit vulture fund profits and decrease the incentive to purchase/litigate on sovereign debt and increase transparency through mandatory filing in US/UK for purchases of foreign debt AND the NAACP strongly supports forthcoming legislation and grassroots efforts that will establish an international bankruptcy framework, binding on all creditors, which would force vultures to comply with debt cancellation and/or debt restructuring efforts.

31. NAACP Support for Present and Future Green jobs appropriations and policies
Resolved: That the NAACP shall advocate for the present and continued funding for the Green Jobs act and for the inclusion of African Americans and other people of color's rightful place in the emerging new green energy sectors and sustainable economies.

32. NAACP Supports applying the decision by the US Sentencing Commission to reduce Mandatory sentences for people convicted of Crack Cocaine possesion retroactively
Resolved: That the NAACP strongly supports making the May 2007 amendment by the US Sentencing Commission retroactive to those currenttly incarcerated for Crack Cocaine convictions AND that the NAACP reiterates its strong support for one-to-one sentencing ranges for crack and powder cocaine sentences.

33. NAACP supports Reauthorization of the Juvenile Justce Delinquency and Prevention Act
Resolved: That the NAACP supports the updating of the JJDPA to decrease over-reliance on detention, detention of statuts offenders, promote effective community-based alternatives to detention and incarceration, and reduce racial disparities in the justive system.

34. NAACP supports a new look at the Federal Budget in FY 2009
Resolved: That the NAACP supports a shift in the current federal budget away from defense and military spending and will continue to fight for increased federal support and funding for public education, affordable housing, health care access and quality initiative, crime preventioin, job training and creation, small business promotion, the protection of our basic civil rights and liberties, energy assistance, the protection of workers rights, and continued assistance for those devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

35. NAACP calls for federal action to End the Home Foreclosure Crisis
Resolved: That the NAACP strongly supports strong anti-predatory lending legislation that establishes higher standards for loan originators and provides stronger penalties and remedies for lenders who break the law, as well as ensuring that any final federal product is the minimumm and that states be allowed to continue to be more aggressive in eliminating predatory lending.

36. Support of Veterans Unity with the Community
Resolved: That the NAACP identify resources, services, and programs in the community that will help assist and educate veterens with Health care, dental care, education, mental health and PTSD, enterprenueship, employment, housing and homeownership, issues unique to female veterens, homeless veterans, formerly incarcerated veterens, and information and access to VA benefits.

37. Quality Military Healthcare
Resolved: That the NAACP calls upon Congress to enact legislation to restructure the healthcare delivery system for active duty military personnel, veterens, and their families, to gurantee access to existing VA facilities and private sector healthcare providers for both physical and mental healthcare needs, including necessary medications.

38. NAACP supports Proposed Popular Vote initiative
Resolved: That the NAACP supports National "Popular Vote" legislation AND that the NAACP supports a Constitutional amendment abolishing the Electoral College.

39. Emergency Resolution - NAACP continues to suport laws to prevent Gun violence and increase gun safety
-Point of Information- Emergency Resolutions may be brought to the floor as written or approved by the President or Chair without having gone through the normal resolution process
Resolved: That the NAACP continues to support safe, sane, and sensible gunn safety legislative initiatives which would make it harder for people with questionable motives and or diminished mental capacity to obtain firearms, either through legal or illegal means AND the NAACP supports an renewal of the assualt weapons ban with a provision that makes it permenant.

40. Emergency Resolution - The NAACP continues to oppose the Dealth Penalty and supports the creation of a commission to investigate the current disparities plaguing the Federal Death Penatly Sentencing Process
Resolved: That the NAACP supports teh communiting of Mr. Troy Anthony Davis' death sentence in light of the new and compelling information regarding the crime of which he is accused AND the NAACP reiterates its continuing opposition to the death penalty at the State and Federal level AND the NAACP strongly supports legislation to be introduced by Senator Russ Feingold (WI) The National Commission on Capitol Punishment Act of 2008

41. The NAACP supports efforts to stop and reverse the dramatic increase in fuel prices; and supports long term, aggressive energy policy
Resolved: That the NAACP strongly supports comprehensive public, private, domestic, and multi-national strategies to address the immediate problems being faced by Americans, and disproportionately low-income, racial and ethnic minorities, and small business owners, most notably comercial truckers as a result of higher fuel costs.

42. NAACP Condemns the Islamaphobic, mean spirited, tasteless, and racially offensive July 21st 2008 New Yorker Magazine Cover
Resolved: That the NAACP decries the July 21st 2008 New Yorker magazine cover as tasteless, mean spirited, Islamaphobic, and racially offensive AND calls on every American who is similarly offended to contact the New Yorker magazine either by email at themail@newyorker.com or by post at The Mail, the New Yorker, 4 Times Square, New York NY 10036.

Tech Tags: NAACP, Youth, Environmental, Popular+Vote, Green+Technologies, Bylaws, Veteran, Health+Disparities, Healthcare, Family, Vulture+Funds, Education, Public+Housing, Labor, Walmart, Civil+Rights

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Would Mississippi take from Katrina Victims to improve a port?

A Mississippi agency wants to divert $600 million in federal funds from a housing program created to help low-income homeowners who suffered losses in Hurricane Katrina and use it to spruce up the State Port at Gulfport, the Associated Press reports.The MDA claims that the housing program has more than enough money to meet demand, making the diversion possible. "This funding will be an important part of helping the State Port Authority restore and enhance port infrastructure for economic development initiatives that will create jobs and improve quality of life for the citizens of the Mississippi Gulf Coast," Gov. Haley Barbour said in a recent statement.

Oxfam America, the Mississippi NAACP and the Mississippi Center for Justice oppose the plan, however. "It's just unfair," Reilly Morse of the Center for Justice told the AP. "We've been told affordable housing was supposed to be a priority. Don't rob the displaced to build a port."

The Institute for Southern Studies documented in a recent report Blueprint for Gulf Renewal, that there's still a serious post-Katrina housing crisis on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Homeowners found the MDA's grant application process to be difficult and time-consuming, and many are still waiting for checks. In the meantime, there are few affordable rental units available in the region, another barrier facing internally displaced persons trying to exercise their right of return.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development must approve the MDA's proposal, which is open for public comment until Sept. 24. Comments may be e-mailed to actioned@mississippi.org, faxed to 601-359-9280 or mailed to Mississippi Development Authority, Attention: Disaster Recovery, P.O. Box 849, Jackson, Mississippi, 39205.

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The NAACP Legal Defense Fund Files Lawsuit on Katrina Anniversary to Halt Purging of Displaced Louisiana Voters

On August 29, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) filed a lawsuit to protect the right of eligible voters to participate in upcoming elections in Louisiana, including those who remain displaced as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Under orders from Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, voter registrars purged more than 21,000 voters from voter rolls throughout the state. The suit aims to stop the state from further implementation of this purge program and order that the state reinstate the voter registration of all individuals who have been purged from the rolls.

"It is well known that many of those who remain displaced are African-American voters who have encountered difficulty returning to their residences in Orleans Parish. Thus, this purge has a clear and pronounced effect on minority voting strength," said Theodore Shaw, LDF Director-Counsel and President. "Until they are able to rebuild and return to their homes, our lawsuit will help ensure that eligible voters retain the right to participate in the political process."

In June, the state identified more than 55,000 voters as persons potentially registered in more than one state. Interestingly, four of the five states that Louisiana relies upon to identify alleged dual-registrants are all areas where many displaced voters remain including Texas, Mississippi, Georgia and Florida.

The state mailed a 30 day notice to these voters requiring that they submit a cancellation notice of any out-of-state voter registration to their parish Registrar of Voters by mail or fax. In July, many of these voters received a second notice requiring that they appear in person at their respective Louisiana Registrar's Office to provide evidence as to why their voter registration should not be cancelled. Finally, on August 15, 2007, approximately 21,000 voters were permanently purged from the voter rolls.

The purge is being carried out on the eve of an election cycle scheduled to begin in October. Many of the people who have been removed from the rolls will not be able to participate unless their right to vote is restored.

The State has begun implementing this purge program and, in fact, has permanently removed voters from the rolls despite the fact that certain procedures underlying the purge program are either pending for review by the U.S. Department of Justice or have not yet been submitted for review pursuant to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. LDF is committed to seeking to restore the registration of eligible voters improperly removed from the rolls.

NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. 99 Hudson St., Ste. 1600, New York, NY 212.965.2200/tel

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Message from Chairman Julian Bond about Katrina and Gulf Coast rebuilding effort

Two years ago this week, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes and laying bare the deep, persistent poverty and racial inequality that still exists in our country today.

Tens of thousands are still living with the aftermath of the hurricanes: FEMA trailers that are making residents sick because of unacceptable high formaldehyde levels, a lack of medical and mental health services, a public education system that has been seriously disrupted, and no assistance for rebuilding their homes. But you and I have a powerful opportunity to make sure that this is not another year of neglect for the people of the Gulf Coast.

Click here to tell Congress to keep their promise to Katrina survivors.

In the next few days, Congress will return from recess with 60 days to decide on the 2008 Federal Budget, including continuing funds for Gulf Coast recovery efforts and assistance for Katrina survivors. But, the President's budget proposal does not provide adequate funding for many of the key programs that provide housing, education and health care assistance in the region.

The President's budget does not renew the $500 million Social Service Block Grant to help hurricane ravaged areas of the Gulf Coast fund child welfare, employment services, and other state and local social programs. And neither the President's budget nor any proposals from Congress include additional funds for The Road Home, a program designed to help those displaced by Katrina and Rita with housing issues, even though this program was forced to stop accepting applications on July 31st because of a $5 billion shortfall.

Tell Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi to increase funding for the Gulf Coast.

We are approaching a moment of truth. In the next 60 days we'll find out if those politicians were telling the truth when they made all their campaign promises and speeches about helping people recover their lives and livelihoods, or if they were just taking advantage of the victims of Katrina for political gain.

The NAACP's local and regional branches are working hard to ensure proper health care, legal representation, education, and housing in the Gulf Coast. The NAACP arrived on the stricken Gulf Coast before the federal government responded and we've been there ever since. As we fought for our inalienable rights during the civil rights movement we must now fight for the rights of the residents New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward. We must hold all elected officials accountable for rebuilding the Lower Ninth Ward and other devastated areas.

Congress has an opportunity to act with conviction and help hundreds of thousands put their lives back together. Let's make sure that they do just that.

Sincerely,

Julian Bond
Chairman

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