Equity and Inclusion Campaign Summary: The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act of 2007

The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act of 2007 will ensure that real progress is made toward rebuilding and sustaining the Gulf Coast region. As part of a package of concurrent legislation, this bill establishes a federal authority to coordinate recovery projects, rebuild key infrastructure, and revitalize the region’s workforce. This bill does the following:

Takes Action to Jumpstart Recovery
• Establishes the Gulf Coast Recovery Authority to implement and coordinate the
necessary federal response to the devastation of the Gulf Coast
• Authorizes and funds the Civic Works Project to rebuild vital infrastructure and
develop the local workforce benefiting workers, residents and local businesses
• Coordinates existing local, state, and federal programs to ensure rapid, effective, and efficient recovery
• Encourages displaced families to return with quality jobs rebuilding their communities

Rebuilds Vital Public Infrastructure
• Provides workforce and project management for the reconstruction of critical infrastructure and services to
ensure that businesses and communities prosper
• Rebuilds and repairs community assets including housing, schools, police and fire
stations, city halls, court houses, roads, utilities, and cultural centers
• Builds an adequate levee system and restores marshes, wetlands, and other
environmental features to provide natural flood protection for coastal residents
• Serves as a national model for disaster recovery and infrastructure development

Spurs Sustainable Community Development
• Strengthens the regional workforce by providing jobs and needed skills training
• Improves living conditions for working families by offering prevailing wages
• Creates opportunity for low income workers through apprentices to receive the skills
necessary to participate in high wage construction trades work.
• Builds regional economy offering local and displaced workers as the first source for
hiring and gives local businesses priority for contracts
• Through local advisory councils, local community-based groups and local officials
determine what projects are implemented in their communities.
• Partners with community groups to do outreach and hire local and displaced workers.
• Chooses leadership in cooperation with community based Gulf Coast coalitions, with
many positions reserved for non-profit community leaders
• Promotes and develops the regions cultural heritage
• Mobilizes programs such as YouthBuild U.S.A. in the recovery process

Creates Opportunities for Public/Private Partnerships
• Creates at least 100,000 jobs for Gulf Coast residents to participate in the rebuilding of
their communities
• Creates opportunities for local businesses to participate in rebuilding and development
projects through competitive contract bidding
• Supports sustainable industrial and commercial development of the Gulf Coast region
and the greater Mississippi River corridor

Requires Accountability
• Requires oversight and community participation in all recovery projects
• Authorizes funding for project review boards and regular financial audits
• Requires regular reports on project accomplishments and solvency

Equity and Inclusion Campaign Summary: The Gulf Coast Multifamily and Assisted Housing Recovery Act

Problem: The Congressional Research Service estimated that 88,000 persons age 65 or older were displaced by Hurricane Katrina – of that group 45,000 were 75 or older. Furthermore, almost 15 percent of all displaced seniors had incomes below the poverty line. While recovery has primarily focused on restoring owner-occupied and rental housing, assisted housing for our elderly and disabled residents has not received a great deal of attention. In particular, 123 properties of Section 202 (elderly) and Section 811 (disabled) - 5,261 total units - were impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Louisiana. As of February 2008, 602 of these units were still offline. Furthermore, for every unit of Section 202 housing, there are 10 eligible low-income seniors on the waiting list.

Solution: To address the immediate need for HUD-assisted housing in the Gulf Coast, the Landrieu-Cochran-Wicker “Gulf Coast Multifamily and Assisted Housing Recovery Act” would:

• Authorize $125 million for additional Section 202 (senior) housing and $75 million for additional Section 811 (disabled) housing
Note: This provision would create almost 1,500 new 202/811 units.

• Authorize $4 million to cover gaps in reconstruction costs for damaged Section 202 properties being rebuilt in Louisiana

• Require the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Secretary to adopt a budget-based rent increase policy for Sec. 202/811 properties in the Gulf Coast to help deal with post-disaster cost increases and expenses
Note: This provision would address the current problem where Gulf Coast Sec. 202/811 properties are facing cost increases not covered under the current HUD operating cost adjustment factor policy. HUD would be required to take a look at actual budgets for these properties and fund accordingly.

• Require a study on Gulf Coast project-based contracts cancelled by HUD after Katrina/Rita.

• Require HUD to maintain contracts for Section 8 project-based assistance in disaster areas until the date specified in the contract or not less than three months after the dwelling units are made habitable
Note: This provision would ensure there is no loss of project-based assistance contracts in the Gulf Coast.

• Require HUD to transfer Section 8 project based assistance to appropriate existing or planned projects
Note: This provision would address the problem where countless project-based developments are sitting vacant while other developments in the community are in need of such project-based assistance.

• Require HUD, not later than October 1, 2008, to develop a comprehensive housing disaster plan for Federally-assisted properties to ensure
Note: This ensures there will be no repeat of post-Katrina issues where countless 202/811 properties were offline for months with no clear plan for replacement housing for displaced residents.