| New Orleans | Austin | |
| Home | 3 BR, centrally located single family house in a high-crime neighborhood |
2 BR apartment adjacent to I-35 in far North Austin in a high-crime neighborhood |
| Transportation (family has no car) |
good public transportation within one block |
nearest bus stop ½ mile |
| Rent | $535/mo. | $599/mo. |
| Household Income |
Dennis: $1,260/mo. Carol’s disability: $579/mo. total: $1,839/mo. |
Dennis: unemployed Carol’s disability: $579/mo. total: $579/mo. |
| HUD Fair Market Rent* |
$696/mo. ($11.31/hr. job needed) |
$804/mo. ($15.46/hr. job needed) |
Federal assistance received (approx.)
(Sept. 15 – Dec. 15)$2,000 (Red Cross), $2,300 (FEMA), $1,799 (rent), $390 (utilities), $1,000 (rent and utility deposits) Total: $7,489
Maximum FEMA household assistance: $26,200
Received through Dec. 15: – 7,489
Maximum remaining FEMA assistance: $18,711
At the current rate of assistance, maximum FEMA benefits for the family will be exhausted by mid-August.
Source: Texas Low Income Housing Coalition
* According to TLIHIS Co-Director John Henneberger, HUD economists set the FMR at the 40th percentile of a city’s overall nonluxury apartment rent rate.
This article appears in February 24 • 2006.