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For Immediate Release

Outreach Team Seeks Opportunities to Meet with Community Groups

BATON ROUGE, La. – December 4, 2006 – Since late August, members of The Road Home Community Outreach team have been working to bring program information to Louisiana’s hardest-to-reach residents. The team has been on the road answering the questions of homeowners and community leaders and assisting applicants in signing up for the program. They continue to actively seek opportunities to bring The Road Home message to residents in their back yards.

Community outreach team members are able to provide program information, including specifics regarding steps to take to apply and obtain award monies. Program information can also be provided in French, Spanish, and Vietnamese when needed.

Groups that are interested in having members of the Community Outreach team address their organization can call the team members directly at 225- 242-1037 or via the toll-free number, 1-888-ROAD-2-LA (1-888-762-3252). TTY callers use 711 relay or 800-846-5277. Requests for outreach personnel participation can also be directed to inquiry@road2la.org.

“We take advantage of every opportunity to provide information to all who need it,” said Perry Franklin, who heads up The Road Home’s community outreach efforts. “We appreciate the efforts of numerous community leaders who have assisted us in doing so, and encourage religious leaders, employers and community organizations in affected areas to let us know of any opportunities to reach additional residents.”

So far, the outreach team has met with more than 16,000 disaster-affected Louisiana residents. The Road Home staff has worked with legislators, non-profit and faith-based organizations, employee groups and neighborhood associations to conduct more than 260 events throughout the southern portion of the state and in Texas, where residents were able to access information about the program through individual interaction with highly trained staff.

“We realize not all displaced residents have access to a computer and many who are residing out-of-state do not receive news from home on a regular basis,” said Michael Taylor, director of the Disaster Recovery Unit, Office of Community Development. “Our personal interaction with displaced residents and other community stakeholders is a key element in helping get Louisiana residents back home.”

The Road Home program is designed to help residents of Louisiana affected by Hurricane Katrina or Rita get back into their homes as quickly and fairly as possible. This groundbreaking program represents the largest single housing recovery program in U.S. history. Working together, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, the Louisiana Recovery Authority and the Office of Community Development created The Road Home program with the approval of the Louisiana Legislature. The program affords eligible homeowners up to $150,000 in compensation for their losses to get back into their homes.

To start your application to The Road Home program, visit www.road2LA.org or call 1-888-ROAD-2-LA (1-888-762-3252). TTY callers use 711 relay or 1.800-846-5277.

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