[FoCHAT] CHAT Meeting Wed., 2/14/07 Proposed RH Bill of Rights & Organizing

[Melanie Ehrlich]

Dear CHAT and FoCHAT Members,
   
  Our meeting tomorrow will be from 6:30 - 7:45 to discuss the Proposed Bill of Rights (B of R) for RHP Applicants. We want this to be a short (for CHAT) meeting because of Valentine's Day, so if you can come, please have written down brief examples of what you want to add to the Bill of Rights as specific examples of what they should do. Be sure to look at the RHP rules posted at their website to see what the comparable rules are now. Vagueness in the rules can also be addressed in your recommended commentary. If you are out of town and cannot come to the meeting, you may send your recommendations to chatlra at yahoo.com with B of R Suggestions in the subject line and the following B of R with your succinct additions under the relevant rule.
   
  Please offer to help by identifying and getting contact information for a district leader and for a land-use issue leader (for the 13 planning districts of New Orleans http://www.unifiedneworleansplan.com/home2/section/28-85/  ) or if you are outside New Orleans and in one of the Louisiana areas qualifying for the RHP, please offer to be a representative of your area or find a representative from your area, preferably someone active in civic participation for your area. Please send this information to chatlra at yahoo.com with Area Rep. and the name of your area in the subject heading. Of course, if you can recommend individuals in areas distant from the New Orleans metro area, that would be great. 
   
  Proposed Road Home BIll of Rights 
   
  I. The right to the complete rules of the program. 
   
  II. The right to timely processing of your application. 
   
  III. The right to a fair and swift resolution of errors, disputes, and appeals. 
   
  IV. The right to a fair and accurate calculation of your benefits and tender of your award (acceptance of grant money without losing the right to dispute resolution and appeal). 
   
  V. The right to simple, fair, and easily understood closing papers. 
   
  VI. The right to simple and fair rules for lenders to administer grant funds (disbursement accounts) that make it easier to rebuild, not more difficult. 
   
  VII. The right to accurate information about the status of your application by informed and trained personnel within 24 hours of your request. 
   
  VIII. The right to reasonable residency requirements for grants and loans and fair rules for grant benefit assignment or compensation if you must sell your home. 
   
  IX. The right to receive sufficient affordable or forgivable loans to enable you to rebuild or repair if you have a low pre-storm appraised value. 
   
  X. The right to have the RHP foster really safer, stronger and smarter rebuilding, which means realistic elevation awards. 
   
  XI. The right to have the disposition of RHP-acquired properties benefit grantees and the neighborhoods in which such properties are located, with LRA-mandated neighborhood input in the process. For New Orleans, this would be the 13 LRA-recognized planning districts: http://www.unifiedneworleansplan.com/home2/section/28-85/. 
   
  Meeting info for tomorrow:
   
  Our next meeting is this Wed., as usual, in the Business Building at UNO at 6:30 PM in Room 212.
   
  Directions to the Business Bldg  are given on the Campus Map for UNO. The URL is http://www.uno.edu/university/maps/maincamp.cfm. The Business Bldg is #7 on the map.
   
  Melanie
   
  Melanie Ehrlich
   
   

 	 
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