Posted by Dinah on February 22, 2006, at 22:15:59
In reply to Houston gets to keep the poorest of the evacuees, posted by AuntieMel on February 22, 2006, at 16:25:15
Well, to be fair, the context is that a goodly number of the public housing units are damaged and unable to be occupied. They'll come back into service slowly. Currently there's an application process that includes a background check for criminal convictions.
I believe that what the current council has suggested is something along the lines of: As units become available, former residents will be given first choice. The application process will then still include a criminal background check, but will also screen for people who are willing to work, or to train for work, in one of the industries that desperately needs workers. Because housing supply is inordinately low, businesses are operating shortened hours. Marine companies are giving away multimillion dollar contracts they worked years to land. The labor shortage is a huge problem that is slowing down the rebuilding of the city. So the council is saying that as units become available, they'll give preference to people who are able to contribute to the labor pool.
Eventually I'm sure a good number will come back. But it's a very slow process. You can't get the public housing units and affordable rental units up and habitable without labor. You can't get labor without affordable housing.
And of course the wonderful bailout plan that we're all delighted and grateful to get, don't mistake me there, but it only compensates homeowners. So rental owners with insufficient insurance, or slow insurance, are going to have trouble rebuilding. So housing will be in short supply for years to come. (Plus, the task ahead is monumental, and would take years in the best of circumstances.)
poster:Dinah
thread:612133
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20060204/msgs/612270.html