New Orleans launches program to pay insurance deductibles for some residents with Ida damage

New Orleans residents who are facing daunting homeowners insurance deductibles that could keep them from repairing damage Hurricane Ida caused to their homes can apply for assistance through an unprecedented program the city is launching to keep people from being displaced by the storm.

The city is opening up a $2 million fund to pay deductibles for low-to-moderate income households. Deductibles for hurricane damage can be steep and run as much as 5% of a home's value, potentially meaning residents could be out of pocket thousands of dollars before their insurance takes over to cover additional repairs.

Ida caused a lot of wind damage to homes and many people, particularly those living paycheck to paycheck, might not be able to afford their deductibles, said Marjorianna Willman, the city's director of housing policy and community development. "Doing this will keep a lot of people stabilized in their current housing."

Getting in on the program, at least its first iteration, will mean acting fast.

The city announced the program on Wednesday, hours before it will begin taking applications. The application was expected to go live on https://ready.nola.gov at midnight.

The bulk of the money will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, with about 25% reserved for those with the most significant damage and need, Willman said.

Overall, the city estimates it will be able to pay the deductibles on between 250 and 300 homes - each of which could be between $5,000 and $10,000. Willman said she expects there is more need in the community than funds currently can cover.

If that's the case, the city plans to lobby for the state or federal government to boost the program to cover more residents, Willman said. Being able to quantify the need in the community by using data from the applications will help, she said.

"We think these numbers are going to be helpful in showing we need additional assistance," Willman said.

To qualify for funding, residents must have sustained damage to their primary residence in Orleans Parish during Hurricane Ida. They also must have a household income at or below 140% of the area median income. That figure varies based on how many people are in the household, but comes to a little over $98,000 a year for a family of four.

Applicants must also be current on all city taxes to qualify.

Applying to the program will require uploading a copy of the residents' insurance policy and estimate of repairs, according to the city. Applicants can also submit their information by dropping off a physical application at the Office of Housing Policy and Community Development on the 10th floor at 1340 Poydras St. or by emailing Director of Asset Management Richard Boseman at rnboseman@nola.gov.

Money for the program is coming from the city's Neighborhood Housing Improvement Fund, which draws from property taxes and is typically used to pay for blight reduction and affordable housing.

The funding itself may be among the first of its kind. FEMA does not typically cover insurance deductibles and Willman said she had never heard of a similar program before.

"I think it's going to be a great program and it's going to help a lot of people who just need a little bit of assistance and it's going to make a world of difference for them, so I'm super-excited," Willman said.