TRAC was providing advocacy services 5 days after Hurricane Katrina made landfall because of our institutional intelligence based on 14 years of long-term disaster recovery service. TRAC’s case management staff is utilized in this project.

Online Registration Service by TRAC:
- KATRINA: 657 OR 1.6% of the 41,083 total applicants
- RITA: 381 OR 2.0% of the 19,068 total applicants
- Project Status: COMPLETE

Without TRAC’s advocacy these families would not have received these disaster relief funds. All of TRAC’s staff members have been utilized throughout this process.

- FEMA,NFIP,SBA Cases Appealed: 319
- Number of Successful Awards: 287
- Number of Awards Pending: 0
- Number of Appeals Denied: 32
- Total Dollars Awarded through Appeal Awards: $1,163,529.99*(includes recoups)
- Project Status: COMPLETE

TRAC has secured additional financial resources needed to complete our clients recovery. Resources are: Catholic Social Services –Houma Thibodaux Diocese, United Way for South Louisiana, St Vincent De Paul Society, UMCOR, Church World Service, ARC, Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, and general disaster relief contributions. Funds utilized for: building materials, construction labor, appliances, sewer treatment systems, releveling costs, ac/heat unit replacement, plumbing & electrical repair, roof replacement/repair, personal property, etc. All of TRAC’s staff members have been utilized throughout this process.

- Households Assisted: 282
- Total Dollars Secured by TRAC: $605,615.60
- Project Status: In progress – to be completed by 12/2009

TRAC is working with clients willing to relocate to secure new home replacements. We have been working with the staff of Bayouland Habitat for Humanity to assist with identifying potential applicants, helping our clients with the application, and providing advocacy throughout the process. TRAC’s case management staff is utilized in this project.

- Habitat for Humanity New Home Applications: 17
- Homes Secured & Moved Into: 4
- Project Status: COMPLETE

TRAC worked with Terrebonne Parish Government staff to complete Hazard Mitigation Grant applicants for repetitive flood loss households required to elevate. This project was completed by 10/06. TRAC is currently working with Terrebonne Parish Government staff to outreach to an additional 300 households that have been identified by FEMA as substantially-damaged required to comply with ABFE regulations. TRAC intends to provide LA ROAD HOME ADVOCACY SERVICES to seek funding for their compliance. TRAC’s case management staff is utilized in this project.

- Hazard Mitigation Grant Applications Completed: 17 households
- Outreach to households required to elevate: 300 households
- Project Status: COMPLETED 6/2007

– TRAC has committed advocacy resources to ensure that households understand this program, provide step-by-step advocacy throughout the entire process, monitor the program to ensure equitable assistance, provide decision making guidance, provide appellate services if necessary, provide construction guidance until the household has completed reconstruction/repair/replacement and implemented mitigation measures to ensure a sustainable home in the rural coastal bayou regions of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. All of TRAC’s staff members have been utilized throughout this process.

- Resources: Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation and miscellaneous disaster relief contributions.
- Online Pre-Registrations: 88
- Online Applications Completed: 241
- Interviews w/ Clients: 220
- Inspections w/ Clients: 210
- Went to 1st Closing w/ Client: 36
- Resolution Management: 13
- State Appeal Management: 1
- Project Management Services Post Closing: 8
- Cases Completed & Closed: 26
- Clients Currently Managing: 251
- Award Letters Received & Responded To: 93
- Ready for Final Review (pre-closing): 69
- Total Households Provided with RHP Advocacy Services: 1256

All 1256 households that were provided TRAC’s LA Road Home Advocacy would not have been able to navigate the RHP system at all. If we had not provided registration, application assistance they simply would not have applied. And had we just provided that type of assistance without one-on-one case management these families would not have been able to navigate through the interview, inspection, resolution, appeal, closing, 2nd closing, post-closing construction processes. This however does not take into consideration meetings, research, outreach to RHP, OCD and LRA officials with policy, procedure, and principal issues with this program as it evolves. Also not included in hours contributed per week; collaborations with LDRF and Oxfam America to ensure that the RHP is fair and equitable. Therefore all funding offered, resolved, pending resolution, appeals, awarded in 1st closings, pending (elevations primarily) for 2nd closings are attributed to the diligent, consistent, persistent client advocacy we are providing.

Community Outreach Meetings: 10 - conducted with LA Road Home Staff, Senator Reggie Dupre, and Terrebonne Parish Planning Dept, Bayou Grace.
- Participant in Road Home Oversight Working Group – meeting weekly
- Submitted testimony to Congressional Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery – June 8, 2007
- LDRF/Oxfam Advocacy Meetings – 4
- Project Status: In progress – to be completed by 12/2009

TRAC has committed construction estimation, building material takeoffs, construction supervision, volunteer management, worksite management, case management, and financial resources in order to provide this service. Resources : Catholic Social Services –Houma Thibodaux Diocese, United Way for South Louisiana, St Vincent De Paul Society, UMCOR, Church World Service, ARC, Whitney Bank Federal Grant, Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, FEMA, NFIP, SBA funds, and miscellaneous disaster relief contributions. Hopefully funds from LA Road Home will be utilized in 2007 also. All of TRAC’s staff members have been utilized throughout this process.

Worksites Managed by TRAC:
- Worksites Completed with Volunteer Labor: 251
- Worksites Completed with Paid Labor: 56
- Worksites Completed with Combo Volunteer & Paid Labor: 65
- Worksites Completed by Homeowner with TRAC financial assistance: 103

(FEMA appeals, Unmet Needs)
- WORKSITES TO BE COMPLETED IN 2007: 300
- Project Status: In progress – to be completed by 12/2009

Understanding the need for volunteers and the ability to house them on a semi-permanent basis TRAC formed a unique partnership with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), and The Elks Lodge of Houma. The Elks donated their land to erect the volunteer housing facility. It is called The Good Earth Volunteer Village and is located on Coteau Rd. in Houma. The village opened March 2006. The role PDA plays is to provide for the housing, feeding, and the commitment of continued volunteer resources through March of 2008 (with possible extension). TRAC’s role is to identify the worksites, provide case management, volunteer management on location, secure all funds needed to complete the project, provide construction management, worksite supervision, and the necessary tools needed to complete the jobs needed. All of TRAC’s staff members have been utilized throughout this process. Resources: Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation and miscellaneous disaster relief contributions.

Completed in 2006:
- Volunteers: 860
- Volunteer Hours: 173,259
- Worksites completed with Volunteer Labor: 168
- Volunteer In-Kind: $2,598,885.00

Completed through June 2007:
- Volunteers: 380
- Volunteer Hours: 100,911
- Worksites completed with Volunteer Labor: 83
- Volunteer In-Kind: $1,513,665.00
- Project Status: In progress – to be completed by 12/2009

Beginning November 2005 TRAC formed a unique partnership with Oxfam America, and MIT to design affordable housing for the rural coastal bayou regions of Louisiana. Architect: Angelloz Architects, Thibodaux, LA Engineer: C.A.S.E., Lafayette, LA. On 11/23/06 “The Lift House – 2 Bedroom” was approved by 3rd party inspector, Delvin Portier, Jr. ICC#5329179-B1. Additional plans for both 1 and 3 bedrooms are in progress. Clients with housing replacement needs are being identified by TRAC’s case management and construction inspection staff. Sponsorship provided by: Diocese of Houma Thibodaux, United Way for South Louisiana, Church World Service, Square Dancers for Katrina.

- Current Housing Replacements Indentified: 15
- Projected Homes Completed by TRAC by 2008: 4-5
- Project Status: 1st home ground breaking – January 2007; Finish work stage: 6/21/07
- Occupancy for 1st home: August 31, 2007