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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>May 11, 2009</FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Dear Friend of CHAT,</FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Because we have 5 new members this week (now 899 total), I would like to remind you that <B>HMGP elevation funding</B> is supposed to be available (up to $100,000; can be in addition to your Road Home grant if you have<B> uncovered</B> costs; but this is a reimbursement program and extremely slow; see http://chatushome.com for more information).</FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>In addition, if you tried to appeal and <B>never got a fair appeal</B> (stuck in Dispute Resolution, no copy of your file available to you, etc.), you can try the information at our website about contacting Ty Larkins. Maybe LRA will reinstate its promised re-opening of appeals, if you are lucky. Please write to </FONT><A href="http://us.mc01g.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=chatlra@yahoo.com" target=_blank rel=nofollow ymailto="mailto:chatlra@yahoo.com"><FONT face=Calibri color=#0000ff size=3>chatlra@yahoo.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Calibri size=3> about what happens or cc us when you write to Ty Larkins for LRA.</FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3> </FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>This newsletter contains the following items:</FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>1. <SPAN> </SPAN></FONT></FONT><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: purple; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'">HUD Office of the Inspector General Investigates the Road Home (RH): </SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'">see near the top of the CHAT website for this news item</SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: red; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">2.<SPAN> </SPAN>Paybacks: or how to you draw blood from a stone or money from a RH applicant who honestly spent it all on recovery </SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">(comment from a report on RH by George Mason University scholars in Virginia): see below</SPAN></B></FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: red; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: red; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">3. Beware RH giving out your private information</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">: see below</SPAN></B></FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'"> </SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><B><SPAN style="COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>4.<SPAN> </SPAN>Clocks ticking</FONT></SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'"> </SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: red; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">Item 1: HUD Inspector General Investigates Road Home-- see our website </SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><A href="http://chatushome.com/" target=_blank rel=nofollow>http://chatushome.com</A></SPAN></B></FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: red; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri>Item 2: Paybacks</FONT></SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'">This complicated program almost never explained to the applicants exactly how their grant was calculated . </SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'">For example, it withheld information about estimated cost of damage calculations (against RH rules) as well as how the pre-storm value was calculated. </SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'">Nonetheless, payback demands for overpayments (due to RH mistakes, purposefully overcomplicated and often changing rules) <SPAN> </SPAN>by this extremely untransparent program are being made.</SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri>From CHAT’s ongoing survey that applicants can update and can link to from our website</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: red; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><A href="http://chatushome.com/" target=_blank rel=nofollow><FONT face=Calibri>http://chatushome.com</FONT></A><SPAN><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></SPAN></SPAN></B><FONT face=Calibri><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">(the public cannot see the answers but can see the questions)</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'"></SPAN></FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'">Here is a survey response from an applicant caught in this unfair payback trap.</SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #4f6228; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'">Sun, 5/10/09 4:48:33 PM </SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: #4f6228"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #4f6228; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'">… when i called to check on elevation grant , which they said i was eligible for, they hee-hawed around until one person finally told me that they had paid me too much and i would probably be owing them money, i told them they had my initial application for almost a year and i am sure they went over it with a fine tooth comb. When they finally told me what i was getting, i asked them if it was the right amount ,because it seemed like a lot and i was told" yes maam" if thats what they say you are entitled to then that is what you are getting. when we went for closing i asked again if that was the right amount, because i told them i would not be able to pay it back if it was not the right amount, they assured me it was the right amount.Now after 2 years they say i will probably have to pay them back, I do
not know how they calculated the original grants for the Road Home Program. They had sent me some papers with the yellow papers but unfortunatly we lost them in IKE.They still tell me i am eligible for the elevation grant, but will probably keep that for back money they are claiming i owe them. My Husband and i are both on social security, i do not know how we will be able to pay them back, we live from check to check now.</SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><B><FONT face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><B><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Even scholars in Virginia found the program to be inscrutable for applicants.</FONT></FONT></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><A href="http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1350519" target=_blank rel=nofollow><FONT face=Calibri size=3>http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1350519</FONT></A>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'">The Road Home: Helping Homeowners in the Gulf After Katrina </SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>P. 7-8</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face=Calibri><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt">Road Home generates </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt">an applicant’s preliminary</SPAN></FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>grant figure by calculating the dollar value of damage</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>incurred to the pre-storm value of the home. From this,</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Road Home subtracts any insurance payouts that the</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>applicant has already received to yield the total. The</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>grantee must then make one of four choices, detailed in</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>figure 3, all of which affect the final amount of the Road</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Home grant.</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>The numerous penalties and adjustments to which the</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>grant calculation may be subject make it difficult for</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>an applicant to forecast the final payout. For example,</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>though insurance payouts were subtracted from the</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>initial calculation, an applicant without homeowner’s</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>insurance (or flood insurance if located in a flood plain)</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri>is assessed a 30 percent penalty against the final award.</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>This formula adheres to the program framers’ intent to</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>avoid awarding a Road Home grant on top of insurance</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>payouts. It also avoids the moral hazard that may stem</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>from “bailing out” property owners who choose not carry</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face=Calibri><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt">insurance but live in high-risk areas.</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 5.5pt">27</SPAN></FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Applicant difficulty in forecasting the payout amount has</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>been compounded by many of Road Home’s other features,</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>including broad eligibility criteria, an exit penalty</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt"><FONT face=Calibri>applied to those leaving the state, and frequent administrative</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri>changes.</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3> </FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>CHAT has long maintained that paybacks are only appropriate for applicants who purposefully withheld information (for example, about insurance benefits) or got grants that were very much larger than they should have gotten and understood the calculations and why they were wrong.</FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: red; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: red; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri>3. Violations by RH of your privacy</FONT></SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri>We have been getting reports of whole files, including social security numbers, contact information, names, <SPAN> </SPAN>sent to the wrong person. We complained about this at a meeting in Nov. 25, 2008 at which the following people were present:</FONT></SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">Robin Keagan, <SPAN> </SPAN>Deputy Director, LRA, Robin.Keegan@LA.GOV</SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN lang=SV style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">David Bowman, LRA, David.Bowman@LA.GOV</SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN lang=SV style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'"> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">Ted Guillot, Constituent Services, OCD, <A href="http://us.mc397.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Ted.Guillot@la.gov" target=_blank rel=nofollow><FONT color=#0000ff>Ted.Guillot@la.gov</FONT></A>, <SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">Al Blankenship, Chief of Staff, ICF Intl.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><A href="http://us.mc01g.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=ABlankenship@icfi.com" target=_blank rel=nofollow ymailto="mailto:ABlankenship@icfi.com"><FONT face=Calibri color=#0000ff size=3>ABlankenship@icfi.com</FONT></A></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">Lara Robertson, OCD, Lara.Robertson@LA.GOV</SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">Richard Gray, OCD, Richard.Gray@LA.GOV</SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">Dan Reese, attny to Paul Rainwater, Dan.Rees@la.gov</SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">Davida Finger, attny, Loyola Law Clinic, who has many RH applicants as clients, davida.finger@gmail.com </SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">Frank Silvestri, attny, Co-Chairman, CHAT <A href="mailto:franks4217@yahoo.com">franks4217@yahoo.com</A></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN lang=DE style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">Melanie Ehrlich, CHAT, <A href="http://us.mc01g.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=mehrlich8@yahoo.com" target=_blank rel=nofollow ymailto="mailto:mehrlich8@yahoo.com"><FONT color=#0000ff>mehrlich8@yahoo.com</FONT></A> </SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">Ranie Thompson, NOLAC, who has many RH applicants as clients, rtthompson@nolac.org </SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri>Al Blankenship retorted to the news of this serious breach of applicant confidential information by saying that he was aware of this. It was due to the overzealousness of the photocopiers and he was making sure that it never happened again.</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri>Well, it did. </FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri>This is a serious violation of HUD regulations, as of course it should be, but just one more example of why applicants need to get a copy of their file from this mistake-ridden program if they tried to get a fair appeal and never were able to.</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri>Here is an email that I received email last month.</FONT></SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#407f00><STRONG>After 9 months and 3 requests for a copy of our file, we finally recieved a thick package from LRA. Enclosed was SOME of our info and also info on 3 other applicants. This included photo ID's, names and addresses, S/S numbers and other "confidential" information, all of which we have destroyed. My question is now "Who else has OUR info?" SCARY!</STRONG></FONT></FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=3> If you get someone else's file by RH's mistake, destroy it right away and tell us that this happened at <A href="http://us.mc01g.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=chatlra@yahoo.com" target=_blank rel=nofollow ymailto="mailto:chatlra@yahoo.com">chatlra@yahoo.com</A> with the Subject: Wrong file sent to me</FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=3></FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: red; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">4. Clocks ticking</SPAN></B>
<UL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=disc>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=3>Last LRA Housing Task Force Meeting: Feb. 6, 2009 (According to the statement of the Chairman of this Task Force, Walter Leger, at the last meeting, we (I am on the Task Force) would meet more frequently than before, now at least once every 3 months)</FONT></SPAN></LI></UL>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=3> </FONT></SPAN>
<UL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=disc>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=3>Public Records Request from myself to Paul Rainwater, Custodian of Records and LRA Exec. Dir. and head of OCD. These requests are supposed to be filled by law within 3-5 days or a strict and expeditious timeline for filling these </FONT></SPAN></LI></UL>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=3> </FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Public records request made on July 1, 2008:<SPAN> </SPAN>Partly filled one month later. Remaining items, never filled despite reminders</FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Public records request made on Oct. 20, 2008: Partly filled in January, 2009.</FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Public records request made on Dec. 15, 1008: Unfilled</FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 5pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'"> </SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 5pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">Feb. 13, My lawyer sent and emailed and a mailed copy of a writ of Mandamus to Dan Reese and Alesia Wilkins, lawyers for LRA. </SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 5pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">After giving several extensions of deadlines to LRA, on March 26, my lawyer sent notice to LRA lawyers and Paul Rainwater that he was filing the petition for a hearing that day. </SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 5pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">April 2, my lawyer is informed that the hearing is set for Apr. 23. </SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 5pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">April 17 & 20 my lawyer is told by Dan Reese that LRA has hired two outside lawyers for the hearing;</SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 5pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'"><SPAN> </SPAN><B><SPAN style="COLOR: red">Your tax money is being used to pay for outside lawyers (when LRA has its own lawyers) to defend Paul Rainwater and the LRA for continuing to withhold from me public documents that you ought to be able to see about the RH.</SPAN></B></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 5pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'"> </SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: red; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">May 12, I am still waiting for the hearing because of LRA procrastination and lack of return of phone calls. This involves your tax dollars going to LRA’s outside lawyers to keep RH information from the public that has every reason to be publicized.</SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: red; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'"> </SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'"> </SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: red; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">Next CHAT meeting: May 13</SPAN></B>
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<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 6pt; COLOR: #333333; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'">Time: Meetings on Wed. at 6:30 PM at </SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'">UNO</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'">, usually every other week<STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'"> </SPAN></STRONG></SPAN></FONT></LI></UL>
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<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 6pt; COLOR: #333333; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'">Place: Room 179, </SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'">UNO </SPAN></FONT><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Milneburg Hall,<STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'"> on Milneburg Rd. (the road where the brand new dorms are, past the stop sign and the University Center and opposite the Fitness Center.</SPAN></STRONG></FONT><B><BR><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Building #24: </FONT><A href="http://www.uno.edu/maps/pdf/maincampusmap.pdf" target=_blank rel=nofollow><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>Directions to the Business Bldg are given on the Campus Map for UNO</FONT></A><FONT size=3> </FONT></SPAN></STRONG></B></SPAN></LI></UL>
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<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 6pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><FONT size=3><B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'">NEXT MEETING </SPAN></B><SPAN style="COLOR: #333333; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'">Wed., May 13. Newcomers are welcome.* </SPAN></FONT></LI></UL>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">Best wishes,</SPAN></B>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'"><SPAN> </SPAN>Melanie Ehrlich</SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'"><SPAN> </SPAN>Founder, Citizens’ Road Home Action Team (CHAT)</SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'"><SPAN> </SPAN>Member, LRA Housing Task Force</SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'">http://chatushome.com</SPAN></B>
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