A forum will be held tonight, Wednesday October 19, 2011, at 6PM by the Mobile Home Residents for Equality and Fairness (MHREF).   MHREF is  a new resident organization of Vermonters displaced by Irene, who have witnessed first-hand the acute affordable housing crisis, and unique challenges in removing their destroyed homes in order to rebuild, relocate, and recover before impending winter.

Tropical Storm Irene damaged or destroyed public records, changed the course of rivers and streams and sprouted an unexpected thicket of legal issues that will have to be solved by the Legislature.   

Storm recovery assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is not just for businesses. Vermont homeowners and renters recovering from damage from Tropical Storm Irene may also be eligible for significant SBA assistance in the form of grants and flexible low-interest loans.

Vermont’s legislative and housing program leaders toured the Irene-devastated neighborhoods of Waterbury yesterday and met with FEMA and SBA officials to examine progress and exchange information about the experiences of agencies trying to help.

Read more at VTDigger.org.