Road Home gets high marks locally

According to recent surveys, the Road Home program is making the grade, providing what responders are calling “good” and “excellent” service.

Results of the Road Home self-administered assessment, conducted from Oct. 24 through mid-November at the 10 Housing Assistance Centers, received high marks. Of the 4,000 applicants, 27 percent completed the survey.

The Terrebonne Parish Center in Houma received the greatest review, 100 percent of the surveys indicated ‘excellent’ service. As of Nov. 24, some 548 individuals have sought out the Terrebonne Center for assistance.

Comments from different respondents from around the state are noting how “helpful” and “knowledgeable” Road Home advisors have been while completing the application process, even going as far to complement the passion and professional manner staff exhibited.

The average ratings of the ten statewide centers showed 93 percent giving “Good or Excellent” review, 5 percent saying service was “Satisfactory” and 2 percent giving a “Poor or Very Poor” grade.

“It is incredibly important that the homeowners have the answers they need to make such important decisions about their future,” said Michael Taylor, director of the Disaster Recovery Unit at the Office of Community Development in a release.

The Road Home program is a special initiative of Gov. Kathleen Blanco, and implemented by the Louisiana Recovery Authority and the Office of Community Development, to get people back into their homes after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The application process is the first step in receiving assistance. In all, 898 applications from Terrebonne Parish, 182 Lafourche applications and 138 applications St. Mary Parish have been received, denoting damaged residents around the Tri-parish area, according to Dwight Cunningham, public information officer with the Road Home Program.

Qualified homeowners can receive up to $150,000 to repair their hurricane ravaged home or even help pay for work already completed, and there may still be some residents who cannot return home and have not sought out Road Home help.

Sen. Reggie Dupre and representatives from the LRA held community meetings early October to try to spread the word about the program and the application process.

Cunningham could not speculate as to why some have not applied for assistance, but is focused on getting the word out to residents, around the state and nation, about the program and to get people to make the one phone call that will get homeowners on their way home.

“It’s equally important, after the difficult year they have experienced, that they be met with caring, compassionate and knowledgeable individuals,” said Taylor.

To receive more information or to start the application process call 1-888-ROAD-2-LA or visit www.road2LA.org.