Agencies / Employees
History of hurricane disaster relief services provided by DHA
The following information outlines how DHA quickly acted to offer housing and emergency services to hurricane evacuees and may serve as a guide to other housing agencies in times of disaster.
Almost immediately upon realizing the scope of damage and destruction initiated by Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast, DHA leaders and staff immediately set in motion a plan to offer emergency
assistance to public housing residents from the hurricane affected areas.
In order to most efficiently, effectively and compassionately serve hurricane survivors in need of temporary housing, DHA followed the below steps.
DHA is proud to serve as a national model for public housing agencies in other parts of the country. As an agency, DHA is proud of the swift and professional response to this tragic situation from
DHA employees, especially the leadership of Ann Lott, president and CEO.
Prior to the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina, DHA had an established policy for disaster situations that would affect public housing in Dallas. As each situation varies, DHA's plan is modified to best
serve clients in this situation. The steps of the plan are not numbered as most took place immediately and simultaneously, as can be the case when working as part of a well-organized team.
On September 29, 2005, Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson met with DHA President and CEO Ann Lott and other local housing authorities. Jackson thanked Lott for the
city’s disaster relief efforts and provided details on the nation’s transitional housing plan for evacuees, Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program (KDHAP).
Prior to the announcement of the national KDHAP plan, the following steps were taken by DHA to immediately address the situation:
Immediate partnership with HUD
- DHA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) initiated immediate communication and established partnership efforts to set in motion disaster relief services.
- DHA organized office space at DHA’s Central Office for arriving HUD and New Orleans housing authority staff.
- DHA and HUD staff worked side-by-side at the city’s downtown Disaster Recovery Center and DHA’s Central Office, determining eligibility for public housing services onsite and arranging immediately
for emergency housing.
- Current technology enabled HUD and DHA staff to gather information from survivors at any emergency shelter location, electronically record it, compare it with information on public housing
residents in affected areas, quickly establish eligibility and initiate emergency housing immediately.
Special hotline number
- DHA immediately established a special hotline specifically for those who had access to a phone and could call for information.
- The hotline and command center was staffed by DHA employees from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Staff members gathered information to establish public housing eligibility.
- Staff members were also educated about the citywide hurricane relief efforts and were able to share information with callers about temporary shelter sites.
- Callers who were determined not eligible for public housing services were given referrals to partnering social service agencies and other city housing programs.
- DHA distributed the hotline number to staff at partnering social service agencies and via public service announcement.
Community collaboration and communication
- DHA leadership (DHA president/CEO Ann Lott and executive staff) immediately collaborated with leaders from the city of Dallas, the Red Cross and other community relief effort agencies as a citywide
plan was set in motion.
- After it was determined that hurricane survivors would be sheltered at Reunion Arena in downtown Dallas, a special team of DHA and HUD staff members arrived at the arena and began communicating and
working with survivors about potential public housing opportunities.
- When the city’s Disaster Recovery Center was set up next door at the Dallas Convention Center, DHA and HUD team members, along with HANO staff guided potential residents in an orderly fashion in a
specific area of the convention center. As the convention center was set up in a very similar fashion to the convention center, it was easy for survivors to go from table to table, getting information
about various emergency services. And because the agencies had all been working together since the inception of the city-wide plan, it was easy for staff from various agencies to direct potential public
housing residents to the DHA/HUD services at the convention center.
Collaboration with other housing agencies
- DHA president/CEO Lott initiated contact with housing agencies across the city and offered DHA central office as a central operating headquarters for these agencies. Staff from nearby cities such
as Dallas County, Tarrant County and area housing authorities such as Fort Worth, Mesquite, Grand Prairie, Lancaster, Arglington, Plano and Garland worked side-by-side with DHA to best coordinate housing
services throughout the Metroplex.
- DHA president/CEO Lott also initiated contact with housing officials in areas affected by the hurricane and offered office space at DHA central office for an indefinite period of time to their
staff.
- DHA president/CEO initiated and participated in meetings with the city, county, state and federal staff to implement strategies for housing.
Locating additional housing resources
- DHA staff immediately contacted area landlords, via phone, fax and e-mail, requesting that they make units available on an emergency and temporary basis. They requested a description of any units
available on a temporary basis (locations, number of bedrooms, etc.).
Special emergency services team and community referrals
- For this unique situation, instead of offering referrals (agency names and contact phone numbers) to other community agencies for emergency needs such as food, clothing and medical treatment, DHA
established a team of employees to directly link clients to those agencies. The special team members worked with families overwhelmed by multiple needs to make sure the services were received immediately.
For example, if a family had three children who all needed clothing, the DHA team member would gather the ages, genders and clothing sizes needed, make contact with the coordinating agency and actually
acquire those items together with the family.
- As these families would also have ongoing needs, the special team members provided survivors with a printed list of community resources that they could refer to for any future needs.
Media relations
- The media relations team prepared a news release for media in the event that information was requested about DHA hurricane relief efforts. Ann Lott also provided television interviews about the
DHA’s efforts in spearheading housing assistance in a fast and efficient manner. Media calls were fielded by Public Relations from as far as Los Angeles and as near as Houston, for the efforts in the city
of Dallas. An internal information sheet was also prepared, as in customary in events that draw media attention.
Ongoing efforts
As this was an event like none other in U.S. history, it was necessary for DHA officials to not only maintain communication and continue partnering with national and local organizations offering
assistance, but to continue working toward long-term placement for hurricane evacuees.
More than two months after Hurricane Katrina, efforts were reorganized due to changes in the nation’s FEMA program. DHA created the Interim Housing Program to administer the Section 403 (public
assistance program) to those affected. The program directly reimburses property owners based on fair market rent and also provides security deposits and utility payments. Additional information on program
eligibility and landlord participation are available on this website.
DHA is committed to working with hurricane survivors, providing emergency housing as needed. DHA is also committed to a continued collaboration with local, state and national organizations in an
effort to assist hurricane survivors along the road to self-sufficiency.
This information may be used as a guideline for others planning for a similar disaster. If you have questions about the plan or need further information, contact Michelle Raglon at
mraglon@dhadal.com.
