WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Grassley today contacted the Governors of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas to offer housing in Iowa for victims of Hurricane Katrina through Iowa’s Office of Rural Development.
"There is an unprecedented number of individuals and families left with no resources or shelter and many victims hope to re-establish their lives in that region at some point. But, in the immediate future we need to house these people as soon as possible," Grassley said. "As we look at this critical need, I have been working with the Undersecretary for Rural Development and Iowa's Rural Development Director to assess our ability to house victims within Iowa."
According to the Department of Agriculture, Iowa’s Rural Development agency has approximately 14,000 multi-family housing units. Seven percent of these are vacant and available as a resource.
Grassley has also contacted FEMA to let the federal agency know of Iowa’s housing availability. He has asked FEMA to coordinate with USDA and the Governors to help get victims to Iowa.
Here is a copy of the letter Grassley sent to the Governors Riley (this letter was sent to all four Governors).
September 6, 2005
The Honorable Bob Riley
Governor
State of Alabama
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, Alabama 36130
Dear Governor Riley:
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, we have an unprecedented number of individuals and families left with little or no basic resources. Many evacuees are searching for safe and stable shelter, for the short term as well as long term. While many victims will likely hope to re-establish their lives in the Gulf Coast region at some point, the immediate need dictates that we house these people as soon as possible, by any means possible.
For that reason I have been working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Rural Development, Tom Dorr, and Iowa's Rural Development Director, Mark Reisinger, to assess our ability to house victims within Iowa's borders.
Within the state of Iowa, the Office of Rural Development has approximately 14,000 multi-family housing units, of which 7% are vacant and available as a resource in this time of need. The Office of Rural Development is ready and willing to offer approximately 980 units to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
I urge you to consider using these units for the victims, to work with the Office of Rural Development, and to send evacuees to the friendly outstretched hands in Iowa.
The citizens and the State of Iowa are happy to assist your State in any way possible. For more information on the housing vacancies, please contact Mark Reisinger, Tim Helmbrecht or Bruce McGuire at:
Iowa Rural Development
210 Walnut, Room 873
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 284-4663
Fax: (515) 284-4821
Thank you for your leadership in finding shelter for our fellow Americans, and for considering the offer of Iowa's Office of Rural Development.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Grassley
United States Senator