Thank You to Congress and the American People

In June 2008, a 2 ½ year campaign led by Senator Mary Landrieu and the Louisiana Supportive Housing Coalition culminated in the enactment of an appropriation of funds for 3000 rent vouchers for poor people with mental or physical disabilities in Louisiana’s hurricane-devastated areas who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or living in unacceptable conditions.

We thank House Majority Whip James Clyburn, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Robert Byrd, House Appropriations Chair David Obey, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Louisiana Congressmen Charlie Melancon and Bill Jefferson, Senator David Vitter, Louisiana’s entire congressional delegation for ensuring that this request was granted.

We also thank Governor Bobby Jindal, Louisiana Recovery Authority director Paul Rainwater, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, the New Orleans City Council, our fellow advocates around the state, and thousands of caring people around the entire nation who communicated to Congress their strong support for this vital assistance to the most vulnerable hurricane survivors.

These vouchers will be tied to supportive services already funded by Congress and designed to ensure that vulnerable people can become and remain stably housed in their own apartments. These vouchers will save many lives.

Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts! With your support, we can and will rebuild our devastated communities equitably with a home for everyone. We pledge that we will not give up until everyone experiences the healing power of home.

Martha J. Kegel
Executive Director, UNITY of Greater New Orleans

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Thank you (.doc)

Katrina’s Most Vulnerable

Louisiana is set to receive $73 million in desperately needed federal aid to help house some of the region’s lowest-income families, including ill and disabled people left homeless by Hurricane Katrina.

Landing the money is only the first challenge. Now begins the delicate and difficult work of setting up permanent housing arrangements for homeless people, many of whom have psychiatric or medical problems that require ongoing counseling and other services.

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Full New York Times Article, July 8, 2008 (.doc)

Testimony, February 6, 2007

Testimony of Martha J. Kegel, UNITY Executive Director, before the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives hearing on the “Federal Housing Response to Hurricane Katrina."

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Full Text of Testimony (.doc)

Testimony, January 13, 2006

Testimony of Martha J. Kegel, UNITY Executive Director, to the House Financial Services Committee during a special Field Hearing of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity in New Orleans.

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Full Text of Testimony (.pdf)