Final Call to Complete the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program Survey – Deadline Announced

The Restore Baton Rouge City in Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program has made a critical announcement, setting the deadline for homeowners to submit the initial survey needed to participate in the program as Tuesday, Aug. 1. This initial survey serves as a pivotal part of the application process; thus, failure to submit by the deadline will result in elimination from the potential assistance beneficiaries.

Pat Forbes, the executive director of the Louisiana Office of Community Development, issued a plea to all homeowners who fell victim to the 2020-21 disasters. “Take immediate action and complete the survey. Don’t delay and lose this golden opportunity to secure recovery funding,” Forbes said. He emphasized that this is a grant, not a loan, and no payback is required. Forbes mentioned that numerous homeowners scattered across the state, who could potentially qualify for the assistance, have yet to submit a survey.

The Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program is a state-administered, federally funded initiative that aims to support homeowners who were adversely affected by Hurricane Laura, Delta, and Ida, as well as the May 2021 Severe Storms. The assistance provided includes grants for home repairs, reconstruction, and/or reimbursement for previously completed repairs.

Interested homeowners can conveniently complete the survey online at restore.la.gov using a smartphone, tablet, or computer, or by dialing 866-735-2001 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday. The program also facilitates in-person assistance at mobile locations within disaster-stricken areas. Detailed information regarding events and locations can be obtained from restore.la.gov/events.

The program encourages all affected homeowners to participate in the survey regardless of their perceived eligibility or the status of their repairs. However, those who have already submitted a survey do not need to repeat the process.

Eligibility for the program is tied to a few key requirements:

• Ownership and occupancy of the home during the disaster and sustained ownership through the final project inspection by the program.
• The damaged home served as the primary residence of the applicant during the disaster and is located in one of the 60 disaster-declared parishes.
• The home falls under an eligible structural type according to the program guidelines, including single-family homes, owner-occupied duplexes, mobile homes, and condominiums.

Moreover, the program has widened its accessibility by modifying the qualifying criteria for homeowners. It has lowered the FEMA-determined damage threshold to $3,000 from $5,000 and increased the allowable maximum of insurance received to $50,000 from $25,000, thereby expanding the pool of homeowners it can assist.

Following the completion of the survey, homeowners who meet the program-phasing criteria will be invited to apply for the assistance program.

The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and managed by the Louisiana Office of Community Development, has seen robust participation since its launch in February 2022. Over 22,300 homeowners have completed the survey, with 8,579 receiving invitations to submit an application. To date, the program has extended more than $232.8 million in funding to more than 2,900 eligible homeowners.

For further details about the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program, visit restore.la.gov.