On June 27, 2011 the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a charge of discrimination against Teresa Mercker of Owensboro, KY for discriminating against a family with children searching for housing after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The complaint was filed and investigated by the Gulf Coast Fair Housing Center (GCFHC). GCFHC works to eliminate housing discrimination across the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Federal laws make it illegal to treat someone differently because of his/her race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability or because he/she has children when insuring, renting, selling or buying a home.

The Jones family was illegally evicted in 2006 from a three-bedroom home with over 1200 square feet of living space. HUD determined that this illegal eviction occurred because the Jones had five young children. The Jones family stated they loved the house. It was affordable, close to their jobs and the children’s school. As they explained in the complaint, “It was perfect for them.”

Charmel Gaulden, Executive Director of the GCFHC states, “Housing was especially scarce after Hurricane Katrina. Families with children often struggle to find housing. This investigation highlights the difficulties families with children face when searching for housing. We hope other families with children after hearing the Jones’ story will file a complaint. The only way we can stop this illegal discrimination from happening is by taking a stand against it.”

Families with children being denied housing should contact GCFHC at 228-396-4008. If you have been told “you have too many kids”, “our house is too small” or “you can’t live here”, contact GCFHC.

To read the full press release click here

To read the charge click here

Tuesday, June 28, Is the Last Day To Register For Tornado Assistance

Jackson, Miss – Tuesday, June 28, is the last day Mississippians affected by the tornados, severe storms
and flooding of April 15 – 28 have to request federal assistance. Homeowners, renters and businesses
must register with FEMA and submit SBA disaster loan applications before the deadline or miss out on
federal aid. Closing hours for registration are 9 p.m. CT, June 28, if done by phone or midnight if
done online.

Residents in 29 designated counties are eligible to apply for disaster assistance. The 29 counties are:
Alcorn, Attala, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Coahoma, DeSoto, Greene, Grenada, Hinds,
Holmes, Jasper, Kemper, Lafayette, Leflore, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Neshoba, Newton,
Panola, Quitman, Smith, Sunflower, Tishomingo, Tunica, Webster, and Winston.

Call FEMA at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. You can register, find out the
status of your application, resolve problems or appeal a decision. You can also register online at
www.disasterassistance.gov.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Register today!

SBA Reminds Mississippians of Upcoming July 11 Deadline;
More Than $5 Million Approved in Disaster Loans

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding homeowners, renters and
businesses, who received low-interest disaster loan applications for physical damage to complete and
return them prior to the deadline of July 11, 2011.

The SBA has approved more than $5 million in Disaster Assistance Loans for Mississippi residents
and business owners affected by the flooding that occurred from May 3 through June 17, 2011.

“Currently, we have approved $5,190,800 for individuals and businesses in Mississippi,” said Frank
Skaggs, director of SBA Field Operations Center East in Atlanta. “We are pleased to get these loans
approved so the people of Mississippi can start rebuilding and resuming their normal lives.”

The SBA offers disaster loans up to $200,000 for a primary residence, $40,000 for personal
property and $2 million for businesses and nonprofits. Interest rates are as low as 2.688 percent for
homeowners and renters, 3 percent for non-profits and 4 percent for businesses.

Survivors in the declared counties are urged to register with FEMA by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362)
or TTY 800-462-7585. Those who received SBA applications are encouraged to return them even if
they do not want a loan. If the SBA is not able to approve a home loan, the individual may be referred
to FEMA for possible grant assistance.

Approved loans can be increased for protective measures to lessen similar future damages.
Additionally, small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations can obtain loans for unmet
working capital needs.

Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the Customer Service
Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities) Monday
through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Applications can also be downloaded from www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be mailed
to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road,
Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Survivors may visit SBA’s website at <a href=”https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/”>https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/</a> to apply for disaster loans.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is July 11, 2011. The deadline
to return economic injury applications is February 13, 2012.