In a written response sent to Ross’s office this week, FEMA acknowledged the placement of travel trailers and manufactured homes is a lengthy process and stated, “This is a time-consuming process as each unit must conform to local housing, zoning and building codes and must be professionally connected to sewer, water, electric and gas utilities to provide a safe, functional home for disaster-displaced individuals and families.”

“I sincerely appreciate that FEMA has opened the line of communication and has been forthcoming with their process and guidelines for placement of temporary housing units and I commend the City of Hope for accommodating FEMA as our nation struggles to heal and we continue the process of helping our Gulf Coast to rebuild,” said Ross.

“Years before Hurricane Katrina, FEMA developed a manual which enumerates qualifications for placement of manufactured homes which includes numerous steps that make it extremely difficult for an individual to quickly receive transitional housing.  For example, the current manual states manufactured homes cannot be placed on a flood plain.  Our Gulf Coast just experienced a natural disaster where most of the homes destroyed were built on a flood plain.  The reality is this:  FEMA owns over 11,000 manufactured homes that are not being delivered due to FEMA’s self imposed, unattainable and exhaustive policies.  This manual needs to be rewritten with a good dose of common sense so that we can get these homes to people in Mississippi and Louisiana who lost their homes and everything they own over five months ago,” said Ross.

“In a time of a national crisis, we must re-evaluate the guidelines and consider suspending the rules to get American citizens out of tents and hotels and into a new home so they can begin the process of rebuilding their lives,” said Ross.

According to FEMA, as of February 2, 2006, 74,189 temporary housing units have been delivered to applicants along the Gulf Coast.  Of the placed temporary housing units, 2,211 are considered manufactured homes and the remaining 71,978 are classified as travel trailers.  Travel trailers must meet less stringent requirements than manufactured homes under FEMA’s handbook in order to be approved for placement.  

While completing the tour provided him with an in depth understanding of FEMA’s placement process and knowledge of guidelines set forth by FEMA, Ross remains committed to seeing the homes placed with the families who are homeless five months after Hurricane Katrina.  Ross plans to continue to ask the tough questions of FEMA to ensure these 11,000 manufactured homes in Hope are delivered to the people who need them.