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Housing task force meets to assist renters
The CNMI government is looking to help Typhoon Soudelor victims rebuild and make homes less vulnerable to natural disasters.
A state-led “Disaster Housing Task Force” met yesterday for their third meeting since forming to develop strategies to assist individuals in need of housing assistance.
According to information obtained from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, whose officials represent the Gov. Eloy S. Inos administration in the task force group, local agencies are coordinating with Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Recovery Center to update the inventory of rental units available to those in need.
The inventory is intended for individuals wanting to participate in FEMA’s rental assistance program.
Led by the Northern Marianas Housing Corp., Commonwealth Development Authority, and Inos administration officials, the task force has been making calls to rental properties for the price and availability of units, and if the units are American Disability Act compliant, and if power and water are available.
The task force aims to assist in “patchwork” rebuilding with the goal of ensuring they give the information and resources individuals need to make sure houses eventually catch up to code and are more resilient to natural disasters.
The task force’s long-term goals are to rebuild and strengthen island homes.
The local Red Cross chapter has reported about 1,070 home destroyed, while FEMA has reported about 80 homes destroyed, with about 900 home inspections more to go, according to information made available to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
