FEMA closing post-Katrina trailer parks

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. government is closing many of the temporary trailer parks in Orleans Parish, La., that were set up for victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Many residents of the trailer parks say they are having trouble finding replacement lodgings at reasonable prices while the Federal Emergency Management Agency closes down the temporary sites, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported Monday.

A notice posted at A.L. Davis Park in Central City reads: "A.L. Davis Playground Temporary Housing Site Is Closing Nov. 18, 2007."

The notice lists two apartment search Web sites to help residents find new housing, but neither of the sites are functional, the newspaper said.

"It is recommended that your next move is into permanent housing since all parks will be closing," the note said.

There have been no public announcements of park closings in New Orleans, but eviction notices have been quietly handed to residents at nearly half of the trailer parks.

"FEMA group-site housing is a temporary solution, and its residents are aware of this and reminded of this," said FEMA spokesman Andrew Thomas, who said the housing-assistance program will continue until March 2009 but that "there is a transition now to move residents into permanent housing, to be administered by (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) after the first of the year."