WASHINGTON -- United States Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., today commented on the six-month extension through August 31 of transition rental assistance for families in the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP). Sen. Landrieu has worked with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shawn Donovan and the Louisiana Recovery Authority to secure the extension. On the last workday of the Bush Administration, officials from FEMA and HUD sent a letter to the State of Louisiana rejecting its request for an extension of the DHAP.

DHAP was designed to provide temporary rental assistance and case management for households displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Currently 31,000 households reside in DHAP units, with 16,802 in Louisiana. Of Louisiana's 64 parishes, 57 have DHAP participants.

Sen. Landrieu said:

"Secretary Donovan took over the helm at HUD and, to his credit, immediately focused on this situation. This action will ensure that our families will not be turned onto the streets, and this extension gives the state time to bring more workforce housing and affordable rentals online.

"The current credit crunch and the lack of available financing have exacerbated an already difficult situation and have delayed construction of urgently needed workforce housing in our region.

"Secretary Donovan has demonstrated that he is not only a willing and able partner -- but a creative partner in our recovery effort, and for this we are grateful. Homeland Secretary Napolitano also worked with HUD, the LRA and our office to secure this critical extension before the deadline.

"We will be working to ensure the state of Louisiana and local nonprofits all work together to ensure that this extension is successful."