Katrina Monday Morning Miscellany

- The new NLIHC "Memo to Members" is online this morning with updates Katrina and otherwise, including analyses of HUD's emergency waivers in its grant programs -- and political notes of interest to housing folks, e.g. that the Republican "Operation Offset" would, among many other proposals, impose higher costs on the GSEs, eliminate the CDFI Fund and the Economic Development Administration, and deny Community Development Block Grants to "wealthy" communities. Sheila Crowley writes on housing activists' efforts to keep HUD from placing newly displaced tenants in competition with needy households on existing housing waiting lists. She says Friday's housing payment announcement could solve the problem but adds: "... if HUD’s intention is to rely on FEMA funds to pay for HUD’s response to Katrina, why did HUD send legislative language to the Hill last week that would essentially allow HUD to divert its remaining FY05 funds and all of its FY06 appropriations to Katrina relief? The proposal was greeted with disdain on the Hill, so it has little chance of being enacted." Details of the proposal to Congress farther down in the newsletter; also a note that HUD representatives are to testify tomorrow morning on the costs of hurricane relief. NLIHC has scheduled a conference call for advocates this coming Friday, Sep. 30 to discuss whatever details of the disaster housing payment program have become available by then. The organization's separate Katrina page is filling out, with links to Congressional and federal agency documents on the disaster recovery alongside its own policy comments.

- There are so many new Katrina bills in Congress that it may be helpful to just browse the list at THOMAS.

- Another batch of Katrina disaster declarations, from Alabama all the way to California, under the FEMA section of today's Federal Register.

- Architecture for Humanity is asking for donations and specialized help to assist the Katrina reconstruction.