MS Alternative Housing

Housing program criteria being set
Selection criteria are being established for Mississippi Gulf Coast residents interested in replacing their FEMA travel trailer or mobile home under the state's Alternative Housing Pilot Program.
The program, which consists of three housing designs- Park Models, Mississippi Cottages and Green Mobile units - was granted more than $280 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Governor's Office is hosting meetings this week with local and state officials from Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties concerning the program. Once the selection criteria have been created, current temporary housing tenants will be notified.
Announcements also will be posted on www.governorbarbour.com/recovery.
The designs can be viewed online at
www.governorbarbour.com/recovery/alternativehousing.htm.

MS Gets Money for Cottages

JACKSON, Miss. -- Gov. Haley Barbour announced Tuesday that the state is getting $280 million for a Katrina cottage program, designed to get hurricane victims out of FEMA trailers and into more durable housing.
Administrators with the cottage program will look for the best-designed housing alternative. Barbour said he hopes to have 7,000 cottages built by this summer.
"Those on Mississippi's coast don't have to stay in FEMA trailers. They can have something larger, more comfortable and, most of all, safer and more secure," he said

The cottage would be used nationwide for any natural disasters. Barbour said at least 50 companies are expected to bid on the project.
The cottages are temporary. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has not decided how long families will be able to stay in them.