Congressman Al Green Joins Colleagues at Financial Services Field Hearing “New Orleans: Ten Years After the Storm”

(New Orleans, LA)—On Friday, November 6, 2015, Congressman Al Green joined his colleagues at the House Financial Services Housing and Insurance Subcommittee hearing entitled “New Orleans: Ten Years After the Storm.” The hearing examined the ongoing response – at the local, state, and federal government levels – to the housing needs of residents affected by Hurricane Katrina. Prior to the hearing, Congressman Al Green and his colleagues were given a tour of the city by the Housing Authority of New Orleans.

“There is no doubt that the large-scale displacement of families because of Hurricane Katrina has been a significant challenge. The burden of this displacement was largely carried by homeowners and renters because they did not have adequate assistance to rebuild.  Additionally, renters had to contend with landlords who had the ultimate authority on whether rental units would be rebuilt. Due to numerous cases where private landlords and the public housing authority did not rebuild, available housing stock in the city decreased, which caused affordability issues across New Orleans. To date, according to the Housing Authority of New Orleans, approximately 26 percent of the public housing stock that existed prior to Hurricane Katrina has been restored,” Congressman Al Green said. “This is why it is so important for Congress to continue supporting efforts by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to increase the affordable housing stock in cities such as New Orleans.”

Congressman Al Green also recognized the efforts of the City of Houston to help residents of New Orleans who found themselves in exigent circumstances because of Hurricane Katrina.

“I am proud to say that my hometown of Houston greeted the victims of Hurricane Katrina with open arms,” Congressman Al Green said. “According to the Houston Chronicle, city officials assisted 250,000 Louisianans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the immediate response included opening the Houston Astrodome as a place of temporary housing and donating millions in services, goods and housing.”