CPD guidance on "special needs" Katrina aid

HUD Community Planning and Development sent out an urgent message this week noting a whole page of new forms and guidance for the KDHAP-SN hurricane relief program. This is the Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program - Special Needs," which is the HUD relief program for hurricane victims who fit special categories based on homelessness, illness, or disability -- including many who formerly received housing aid through regular Continuum of Care mechanisms such as Supportive Housing Program. The new material makes clear that each Continuum must name a "KDHAP-SN Authorizing Agency" or "KAA" in order to receive such aid.

Lagniappe: the acronym "KAA" is already claimed by a variety of entities, ranging from architectural, anime, and computer programming firms, to professional groups including the Kentucky Alpaca Association. Childhood readers of Kipling may also remember Mowgli's friend Kaa the Rock Python, featured in the Jungle Books most thoroughly here and perhaps most memorably in the hair-raising late tale called "Red Dog." Well, there's a new connotation for the syllable now, and may the Kansas Anthropological Association, the Kittery Art Association, and the Maori television personality Kaa Williams all find it a worthy neighbor.