Members of Congress move to block transfer of housing money to Mississippi port expansion

Facing South has reported on the affordable housing crisis along the MississippiGulfCoast in the wake of the 2005 hurricanes. Last September we reported on the State of Mississippi's move to transfer $600 million from a housing program created to help low-income homeowners to expand the StatePort at Gulfport.

This week several members of Congress, including Congressman Bennie Thompson and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, signed a letter requesting that House Appropriations Chairman David Obey insert language into a current appropriations bill blocking Mississippi from diverting the $600 million in emergency Community Development Block Grant funds.

Advocates point out that thousands of Mississippians remain displaced nearly three years after the storms. Reilly Morse, senior attorney with the MississippiCenter for Justice, has twice testified before Congressional committees regarding the use of CDBG funds for purposes other than the adequate restoration of safe, affordable housing for low and moderate-income residents. In a press statement, Morse explained:

"Affordable housing is a necessity, not a luxury. The $600 million is more than ten times the amount needed to cover hurricane damage to the port - damage that is largely covered by private insurance and other monies. The diversion puts the lives of thousands of Mississippians at stake because they will be without safe, affordable housing."