Comments on: They gave him money to fix his house. Now they want it back.

By: Donna Tucker

Donna Tucker — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:04:41 +0000

Hopefully this is my last comment. The problem of fraud and misuse of funds did not start with Hurricane Katrina. Fraud and waste has been going on for as long as humans have been around. There was just a huge story on the waste and fraud by the Veterans Administration, the military and other government agencies. There were people who took advantage of funds from Hurricane Katrina, there were people who were unappreciative with help and there were people who were outright bandits during and after Hurricane Katrina. Many people have commented that they are sick of hearing about it and that others from other areas were affected by Katrina and other storms who are ignored. All this rings true and maybe even more things will come out. So why is Hurricane Katrina always brought up? Because the ENTIRE world watched our Federal, State and City governments mess up big time and that is egg in the face no one wants. Now our governments and citizens of the USA are trying to "throw out the baby with the bath water!" Please, my fellow citizens of the US, lost is lost. I lost my home, my job, close friends and even my church was lost. For people to tell me, hey it's been 3 years so get over it, is cruel and unfeeling. There are many that struggled and are still struggling but we are fighters and making it. I would not tell people how to grieve nor negate their struggle. All of us did not get rich, all of us are not living like fat cats and all of us didn't commit fraud. Like in any situation, the bad folks make a better story and get more pubilicity! Our stories of lost and struggle don't make good press. I pray that all the hard nosed individuals never experience lost of everything in one day, but if they do, I pray they receive the compassion they can't seem to find for others. My last three years have been hard but I am blessed and have moved on, doesn't mean I don't grieve. I grieve quietly because America is not interested in my grief. I get it. That man will have to pay that money back like all others whether it is fair or not fair. He will have to pay it back because the little man always pays for government err, just like it is America's working middle class that pays the bills for America. Thank you for reporting this story. It is good to know that some people are still out here who understand the insanity of dealing with the Federal, State and City governments! Peace to all.

By: Chris- Gulfport, MS

Chris- Gulfport, MS — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:34:26 +0000

I am a youth minister in Mississippi, just moved here this past september. I was unaware of how "bad" it was down here. It was hard to imagine what it was like after the storm and trying to rebuild and move on with life after Katrina. I have found that everyone from the gulf coast has stories to tell about going through this awful experience. Some, will never be the same. Almost 3 years later and people here are still in "a fog" that has never really left them. We have members of our congregation that are making house payments on houses that are no longer there. They are still living in FEMA trailers, which by the way are making people sick. But, I think the worst part of it all are the families that had house insurance, which included disasters like this...the companies are not paying. We have families locked in court battles with these insurance companies where this should have been done a long time ago. There is still a lot of work to be done, not only in New Orleans but all along the Gulf Coast. If you are interested in helping please visit the UMCOR web site and they will be able to get you more information on sending money or bringing a group down to work. Thanks, and God Bless!

By: Don

Don — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:49:55 +0000

Not diminish what the people of New Orleans went through, but give me a break. This is the government giving these people our money to rebuild thier homes because they didn't pay for flood insurance. The guy on Andersons report said he spent almost twice what the Government wants repaid. That means we, US taxpayers paid for over half of the repairs to his house when the grant was to pay only 20%.
It sadens me to see "360" put this story out in a way that makes the government look bad because they are, for once, trying to be good stuards of our money. The reason New Orleans isn't built back as fast as it should be is because of this exact type of government waste. Good for them on getting it back.
The injustice would be to not get the money back.

By: Noo Awlins Born 'n' Raised, Dawlin'!

Noo Awlins Born 'n' Raised, Dawlin'! — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:53:06 +0000

The idiocy, self-righteousness, ignorance, and generalizations of most of the comments on this board astounds me. Clearly, none of the people who made such posts have ever set foot in New Orleans, unless perhaps they went to the 200-600 blocks of Bourbon Street.

New Orleans was founded in 1718, was THE major port of the 19th century, and has done way more than its share in contributing to this (once-) great nation. And we aren't even talking about its cultural gifts, which far outweigh those of nearly every other city in the United States.

Historically, Louisiana stretched across the entire Gulf Coast. We share a culture and common frames of reference across the region. We have been survivors of catastrophic fires, floods, yellow fever, military occupation, changes in government, and the pollution, disease, and death that come from refining oil for the likes of the Bush family, Condoleeza Rice, and Dick Cheney. Particularly when it comes to the oil industry, we have been getting screwed for nearly a century now. This country owes us more than it can EVER hope to repay.

I've had it with the self-righteous "you-did-it-to-yourself" crowd. NO. YOU did it to all of us by voting in the filthy devils who preside over this mess. If you want to gut an entire city, start inside the Beltway, baby.

Show some respect. Otherwise, bring your superior self on down to Gentilly, the Ninth Ward, or New Orleans East and get your hands dirty. At least that way, you'll have some idea what you're talking about the next time you post.

By: mel

mel — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:51:17 +0000

I do not understand why the government will lend a helping hand to home owners that buy a house that is too expensive for them yet when people's homes are destroyed in a natural disaster they want money back???

By: Travis and Cheryl Loz

Travis and Cheryl Loz — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:10:24 +0000

You can tell the company made the mistake and did the classic greed on peoples misfortunes! A company should take responsibility and suck it up! America has to start taking care of its own and worry about the people and the country will come along!
Or come to Canada! lol

By: J. M. Cornwell

J. M. Cornwell — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:04:08 +0000

Since the overpayment came about from the contractor's estimates, it should be the contractor paying the overage and not the homeowner, especially when the homeowner has spent more than the grant in fixing the house. Conversely, the amount of actual repairs should be factored into the grant repayment and the contractor should make it good. It's certain the contractor didn't lose on the deal.

By: Pat White

Pat White — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:31:59 +0000

The residents of New Orleans, La. continues to suffer long after Katrina; they are no longer victimized by the howling winds, rapidly rising waters, and the stench of death both human and animal brought on by Hurricane Katrina, but now they are bombarded with the ineptitude and arrogance of a gov't that was suppose to mitigate their suffering. For ICF to use the word "compassion" is insulting and hypocritical. Since ICF with-held documents that could have revealed critical info on expenditures allowed and not wait until after monies were spent, ICF should reimburse the State.

By: J Reid

J Reid — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:27:29 +0000

CNN did a story a few weeks ago about the US government allocating 600 million for assistance in the rebuilding efforts for the victims of Katrina. In that report it was stated that the funds were diverted with the intent of using the funds for a "casino and to improve the harbor".
Maybe CNN could investigate these appropriations from the state &
federal government with regard to accountability, malfeasance, and
determine who is responsible for seeing to it that the funds get where they are supposed to go. That 600 million could go along way toward building housing for those people living in the FEMA trailers.
Low cost housing projects could also be used for eventual housing for the elderly as the Katrina victims eventually relocate when they get
back on their feet. There doesn't seem to be any accountability for
the funds appropriated. Maybe with some press coverage identifying the apparent void in monitoring these projects, there may be improvement.

By: Amber

Amber — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:20:02 +0000

Something he said in the interview hit me... The state would not allow him to review their inspection report. I'm not a lawyer but it would seem to me that if the homeowner is denied access to the inspection report they should not be held responsible. Had the homeowner had access to the report they could have pointed out mistakes earlier on to avoid repayment. As in this interview the 6 skylights the homeowner never had.
I think if the state wants the money back from overpayments they should go after the company who did the inspections not the homeowners.

By: Renee

Renee — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:11:45 +0000

Honestly I am outraged at all the free-bees the government gives out. What's with all these grants? If this happened to my house I would not be getting any grants, nor would I expect the government to fix things for me. Most of these homeowners (as they are called) didn't even own their home. A lot of these people were in assisted housing, and on wellfare. This is what happens to people who expect the government to take care of them. And when has the government ever been able to make peoples lives better, for crying out loud?!!

By: Bobby Vidrine

Bobby Vidrine — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:57:15 +0000

I am from Louisiana and I will tell you what is going on. The Road Home program that our State was running only had a certain amount of money and it was sooo confusing to know if someone qualified. One week certain parishes, next week No wait, then: the money was overspent "according to homeowners/contractors" estimates but our Intelligent former governor was running tv ads telling people to keep on submitting claims even though a fourth grader could see money was technically gone!!!! Gov. Blanco was counting on pressuring the federal gov't. into pouring much more money in and it DID NOT WORKOUT. NOW they want the financially strapped people to bail our gov't out of Blanco's non-sense..

By: Sharon from Indy

Sharon from Indy — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:00:06 +0000

Randie:
So what is the government going to do, start foreclosing half-recovered homes? This is a disgrace.

By: Lula who's fed UP!

Lula who's fed UP! — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:57:53 +0000

IT'S BEEN (3) THREE years since Katrina. How long does it take for someone to get back on their feet?

Should the money be repaid? YES! Repay debts just as you would with the IRS, food stamps, student loans, social security.

My 62 year old dad has to repay 8k b/c the state made a mistake when issuing him his social security checks when he had ankle surgery. They claimed they overpaid him. That an emergency life situation and he had to return to work fulltime so he won't lose his house after my mother died but he's willing to satisfy his debt. The government isn't perfect and neither are the loudmouths who keep claiming the government doesn't act quick enough like during the Katrina incident. The money is coming out of our pockets so PAY IT BACK!

By: bob

bob — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:58:42 +0000

Bev,

Homeowner's insurance policies do not cover flood damage. The VAST majority (I'd say at least 75%) of the damage done by Katrina was done by flooding. If you had flood insurance you were OK. If you lived on the coast or in N.O. below sea level and didn't have flood insurance, that is your own stupidity. Live and learn and quit trying to blame your mistakes on others.

By: kimkan

kimkan — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:36:07 +0000

wow ~ what a blow to an already hurtful situation: 2,000 people dead, 80% under water for an average of 57 days, 400,000 jobs lost and 275,000 homes destroyed, … and the best our government can do is to demand that grants be repaid when it should have free money because you all are taxpayers? what a loathsome, detestable country we live in!!!
icf's past financial messiness should have made them ineligible for being awarded a government contract in the first place. even in the face of several conflicts of interest, and icf was recently awarded a merrill lynch contract!? i sound a HUGE rat in requiring the residents to repay for what was an inflated grant in the first place!
it just goes to show what being aligned with blanco and bush can do for the haves while leaving out the have nots and making them pay for not having ~ is that the american way!!

By: Lilibeth

Lilibeth — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:50:14 +0000

This suspiciously sounds like the “Walmart story” that happened recently, in which the victims were asked to return the money paid to them. I hope the hurricane victims get the same outcome and get to keep the money. Please continue to follow this story.

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

By: Michael J Rice III

Michael J Rice III — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:45:16 +0000

I am a recipient of a Road Home Grant and served as a Notary Public for many closings for such grants. Each notary was instructed to inform each recipient as to conditions for the grant and situations that could require repayment. A document signed and notarized at the closing was the restrictive covenants that attached to the property for at least three years.

We did not know how the amounts were calculated at the closing, but I informed everyone who sat with me of their appeal rights and how they could get that information in the appeal.

For me, the grant was the only way I was able to complete the repairs to my house and I am grateful for that. I have not received any letter asking for any money back yet . . . but I know I will need to give money back when I finally settle with my insurance company.

That is one of the covenants that I explained to everyone who sat with me. Using the damaged house as rental property within three years is another covenant I explained.

By: anne newfoundland, canada

anne newfoundland, canada — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:32:35 +0000

Just when you think you had seen it all regarding anything to do with the mess that is Hurricane Katrina,something else pops up.
It is hard to believe that it will soon be 3 years come August.

Is Ray Nagin still the mayor of New Orleans,he is never seen on anything much it seems,is he keeping a low profile?

I also hope 360 can also focus on some of the OTHER places along the Gulf Coast damaged by Hurricane Katrina as well,like those in Mississippi-Waveland,for instance,among others.

By: bob

bob — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:27:36 +0000

Let's see if I read this story right. A whopping $1.75 million is owed by as many as 5000 families. And "some" of those families could owe $150,000. How many is some? 5 or 10? 10 at $150,000 would amount to $1.5 million, meaning that the other 4990 would divide up the remaining $250,000 or about $50 each. But wait, the gentleman in the story wasn't paying back the $150,000 rather only $13,000 so there must be others that are being billed large amounts. So most of the people would be paying back even less than the $50. And for this, some of you are getting angry?