The Sun Herald | 07/21/2006 | First homeowners to receive flood grants

The Sun Herald | 07/21/2006 | First homeowners to receive flood grants: "BILOXI - Seven families who applied for hurricane home assistance grants early as part of a pilot program will receive checks this afternoon, and between 16,000 and 17,000 others who applied later will begin receiving letters Monday instructing them to how to get their money, Gov. Haley Barbour said today.

This round of federal grants is going to people whose homes were destroyed or were substantially damaged by Hurricane Katrina's tidal surge, had homeowners insurance, but no flood insurance because their residences were not inside a federally declared flood zone. Barbour said the average amount for the first 100 grants was about $80,000 - a figure he expected to remain consistent. The letters will instruct people with mortgages to set up appointments with their lenders for the grant closings.

The process should take about four weeks, Barbour said."


Woo! Seven people!!! They're really rolling now. We're saved!

Of course I'm trying to figure out why these first lucky seven are receiving 'checks' and the next 17,000 will receive 'letters instructing them how to get their money'. *headscratch* But hey -- this is progress.

By the way - from the mshomehelp.gov website we have the following FAQ and answer:

"Question
How long will the whole process take before I receive notification of eligibility?

Answer
We anticipate the entire process taking 90 days from application to closing. Applicants who have verification exceptions and complications will take longer."

For the record - we applied on April 17th, 2006 (see post here)

I guess the days have actually become as long as they have felt.... It's been a long, long 90 days.

For a recap of the major developments in the Mississippi Katrina Homeowner's Assistance Grant program -- follow the links:

Friday, January 06, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/01/sun-herald-01062006-barbour-details.html
Friday, January 13, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/01/taylor-offers-guidance-on-katrina.html
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/01/sun-herald-01242006-home-grants-coming.html
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/02/sun-herald-02072006-home-grants-2.html
Monday, February 20, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/02/wlox-tv-news-for-south-mississippi.html
Monday, March 06, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/03/mish-mashy-weekend.html
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/03/letter-to-mississippi-development.html
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/03/morning-coffee-update.html
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/04/block-grant-phone-lines-swamped-web.html
Monday, May 15, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/05/coast-elderly-face-task-of-rebuilding.html
Monday, May 15, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/05/round-two-ding-ding-mda-throws-sucker.html
Sunday, June 04, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/06/katrina-homeowner-grants-set-to-arrive.html
Monday, June 19, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/06/mississippi-katrina-homeowners-grant.html
Thursday, June 22, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/06/wlox-tv-news-for-south-mississippi.html
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/06/wlox-tv-news-for-south-mississippi_28.html
Friday, June 30, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/06/safeguard-properties-why-i-think.html
Friday, July 07, 2006
http://vasavana.blogspot.com/2006/07/sun-herald-07072006-homeowner-checks.html