Thousands face Katrina recovery grant deadline

Thousands face Katrina recovery grant deadline

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
Associated Press


NEW ORLEANS — Homeowners whose properties were ravaged by Hurricane Katrina hustled to meet a deadline to apply for rebuilding grants, but many had little faith the federally funded program would come through.

Residents have until today to request up to $150,000 from the state-administered Road Home program. It is funded with $6.4 billion, but if everyone eligible applied, it would face an estimated $5 billion shortfall.

"If the government doesn't give me any assistance, then I guess I'm going to have to go overextend myself and take out a loan," 59-year-old Bessie Griffin said Friday as she waited to meet with Road Home representatives.

Griffin beat today's application deadline, but worried the program would go broke before she and thousands of others received any money.

Griffin had vowed to be the first on her block to rebuild when she returned to New Orleans after the Aug. 29, 2005, storm. Her enthusiasm gave way to crippling despair, however, after she gave $10,000 to an unscrupulous contractor who left town without working on her home.

As today's deadline approached, several dozen property owners gathered at First Pilgrim Baptist Church in New Orleans to fill out applications or press officials for answers about pending applications.

Joe Cox, 41, and his wife, Tara Cox, 37, applied for a Road Home grant several months ago and are still waiting to hear if they are eligible.

"We're not holding out much hope," Tara Cox said.

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