The Recovery Continues

Hundreds of people came together on the Coast at a hurricane recovery summit to discuss what still needs to be done on the long road to recovery. MPB’s Phoebe Judge reports.

We still need help. That was the main theme at the 2nd annual Katrina Recovery Summit held in Biloxi. With approaching deadlines for federal and state recovery and housing programs, volunteer numbers dropping and funding running out-- over three hundred people came together to talk about what to do next. Roberta Avila is director of the Interfaith Disaster Task Force,

“We are not recovered as a community we have got to find way to get the resources for case management to get the resources to implement these recovery plans to help people recover.”

There are over 250 case managers working in the state trying to help the thousands still affected by Katrina. Stephen Carr is program director of the Mississippi Case Management Consortium,

“So the one thing that we need right now is to be able to match case management with direct service dollars. Those dollars that help people put a roof over their head, and a case manager to help them access those resources and ensure that that money is spent wisely, that the money is protected so that people don’t get ripped off by contractors that sort of thing. Case managers really they assess, plan, advocate, link and monitor on behalf of the client.”

The day was capped by some good news for those involved in recovery, when U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that states will have the chance to request a 60 day extension for one of the temporary housing programs set to expire on March 1st. For MPB News, I’m Phoebe Judge in Gulfport,