Restore Louisiana Homeowners Program update documentation needed for your SBA Disbursed Adjustment

Within 30 days from the date of this letter, please submit the following documentation to your Restore Louisiana case manager certificate of occupancy, all proof of payment for all repairs listed in your estimated cost of repairs provided by the state OC

By Murray Wennerlund published 11-2-2022 updated 11-2-2022
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Above: Subject line from email)

"Within 30 days from the date of this letter, please submit the following documentation to your Restore Louisiana case manager:"

Certificate of Occupancy for your completed, reconstructed home, or
Completed and paid final contract for all scoped work listed on your repair Estimated Cost of Repairs (ECR), or
Receipts for work completed to repair your home that is not captured on your reimbursement ECR."

I will share with you the actual meaning of each bullet point to you. You are welcome to post in the Restore LA Program Info Exchange group any questions about how the state calculations the "Lessor" of costs.

Item 1. If you reconstructed your home after it was listed as more than 50% damaged by FEMA (FVL) and documented with your city or parish the state will calculate your reimbursement by sqft of your home. If you are in a flood zone you have to be elevated 2 feet above base flood elevation or they will award nothing.

Item 2. If you hired a contractor you can submit your total costs based on contractor invoices to the state. The state will compare the invoices to the ECR and award the lessor amount. If you did all the repairs yourself the state will pay what the ECR reflects less 20% for contractor overhead. (according to policy)

Item 3. When the state asks for receipts for work completed that are not documented in the reimbursements ECR they will ask for contractor receipts. You can actually call for a final inspection so the state comes up with a final ECR number for you. If you have paid cash, undocumented labor you can submit your own cash receipts to account for the costs.

The letter is simply trying to collect information to calculate your grant award. Be sure you submit all costs even undocumented expenses to discuss your final grant award before you accept it. Once you accept your grant award it is very difficult to have a additive change order submitted.

Keep the following things in mind when you communicate with the state and do not offer any additional information to what the state is asking for.

If you can not complete your grant closing and final signing processes you will not be awarded or offered any amount of SBA loan.
If you do not respond with the documents or information within the timeline noted by the state you will be withdrawn from the program which is how the state lists a "Voluntary Exit", "Quit", or "Given up" on the program.
If you have a deadline you must submit an Exceptions Panel Review for a 30 day extension. You will offered continued weekly extensions as long as you can show progress but nothing more than 180 days from the date of your deadline.

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Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program Extends Application Deadline to Tuesday, Oct. 31

If you know someone who applied for HUD CDBG-DR Grants and was invited to complete the application process please send them a reminder, call them, tell them Ill help them complete the application if necessary. Dont let GRANT funds go to the state!

By Murray Wennerlund published 10-11-2023 updated 10-11-2023
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The budget is being increased by 60% due to inflation of construction cost for materials and labor for state.

The state has determined that the costs for building new residential homes since 2019 has gone up by 60 percent due to inflation in the construction industry. This inflation seems only to impact state managed projects and programs.

By Murray Wennerlund published 8-9-2023 updated 8-9-2023
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Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program Announces Deadline to Complete the Survey

It is your federal tax dollars that fund the HUD CDBG-DR grant programs. If you dont apply, your state will use the dollars for its projects, and youll still be paying out of pocket for all your disaster recovery expenses.

By Murray Wennerlund published 6-6-2023 updated 6-6-2023
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Louisiana disaster victims to pay HUD fair market value for temporary shelters provided by FEMA

Every disaster leaves thousands of Louisiana families homeless. FEMA typically is the first to provide temporary shelter. The FEMA housing program goes for 18 months then becomes a for profit shelter by charging fair market rents to the homeless families

By Murray Wennerlund published 5-3-2023 updated 5-3-2023
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Why is it taking so long to process my HUD CDBG-DR Restore Louisiana Homeowners Grant

Every federally declared storm has a name and number and your state will make up a new name and number for the branch of government that is responsible for assisting homeowners with their recovery. Same Process, Procedure, People only contractors change.

By Murray Wennerlund published 3-28-2023 updated 3-28-2023
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You should not be paying taxes on your disaster damaged home if you do not occupy the home due to the damage.

Many Louisiana homeowners simply pay their property taxes as usual even if they are living in a camper on the property while making their primary home safe to occupy after a declared disaster destroyed it. Learn about your tax waivers for your recovery.

By Murray Wennerlund published 3-2-2023 updated 3-12-2023
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You may have answered questions incorrectly when you completed your Restore Louisiana Program Survey.

Louisiana homeowners that should have been invited to the Restore Louisiana Grant Program in 2022 during the first round may have disqualified themselves by answering the Restore Survey questions incorrectly, even if they read the Restore Survey Guide v3

By Murray Wennerlund published 1-15-2023 updated 1-30-2023
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Restore Louisiana to Rescind Grants if grant execution date is more than 30 days from grant award date.

The state of Louisiana can and will rescind your HUD Restore Program grant if you do not meet the programs expectations and timelines. What the state of Louisiana doesnt do when they send a threatening letter is explain to you the appeals process.

By Murray Wennerlund published 1-4-2023 updated 1-4-2023
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Louisiana Restore Homeowners Program Appeals Process Standard Operating Procedures.

This post includes information from the Louisiana Restore Appeals SOP from 11-2018. This is a document that is updated by the state OCD-DRU and can be requested by using the document name.

By Murray Wennerlund published 1-4-2023 updated 1-4-2023
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Hurricane survivors, do not allow your grant to be rescinded because of Sales and Purchase Agreement delays.

Restore Louisiana OCD-DRU operates by spreadsheet and form letters. When you receive word you are eligible for a grant you are then on the clock to sign, close and execute the grant award. You are offered 30 days only to learn you need 90 days.

By Murray Wennerlund published 1-3-2023 updated 1-3-2023
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