Gov. John Bel Edwards announces Hurricane Ida Sheltering Program

Residents who lost their homes after Hurricane Ida struck Southeast Louisiana can get temporary housing through the state’s new sheltering program, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Monday.

“There is no doubt that there are people currently living in unsafe or unsanitary housing because of Hurricane Ida, which is not acceptable,” Edwards said in a press release. “Housing is the biggest challenge facing those affected by this devastating storm, and our state-run sheltering program is a safe, creative, temporary solution to get more people closer to their homes as they rebuild.”

Through this program, the Governor’s Office Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness which will provide temporary non-congregate housing — such as travel trailers — to Louisianians in parishes heavily impacted by Ida “that do NOT have other sheltering options currently available,” according to the program’s website.

Sheltering options may include hotels, base camps, crew barges or recreational vehicles (RVs), according to the release. The program is funded by FEMA, but runs entirely through the state.

The program will be focused initially on Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. John the Baptist, St. Charles, St. James  and Lower Jefferson parishes — according to the governor’s spokesperson.

Weeks after Ida struck, Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish residents have been sleeping in tents and makeshift structures built out of rubble, according to House Speaker Pro Tempore Tanner Magee (R-Houma). About 13,000 homes in that region have been destroyed, including 60% of homes in south Terrebonne Parish, he said.