WASHINGTON - February 24 -

WHAT: Conference Call Briefing: Post-Katrina Problems With Housing, Jobless Benefits Persist for Storm Evacuees

-- Congress Waits Until After Recess to Address Expiring Unemployment Assistance; Many Families Face Housing Limbo

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. (ET)

WHO:

-- Barbara Sard, Director of Housing Policy, CBPP

-- Will Fischer, Senior Housing Analyst, CBPP

-- Maurice Emsellem, Policy Director, National Employment Law Project

-- Melissa Flournoy, President and CEO, Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities will hold a conference call briefing on Tuesday, February 28 at 1 p.m. (ET) to focus on two problems facing evacuees of last year's hurricanes: the poor federal response in meeting the housing needs of the lowest income families, and problems and uncertainties connected with unemployment benefits.

Starting March 4, approximately 165,000 Gulf Coast families left jobless by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will reach the end of their unemployment benefits unless Congress acts to extend their assistance. Before the recess, the Senate passed legislation to extend the jobless benefits, but the House has yet to act.

In the housing area, continued poor performance by FEMA is raising mounting concern. The briefing will discuss a series of new CBPP proposals to make more effective use of the federal disaster relief and reconstruction funds being devoted to housing; the proposals include the transfer of certain responsibilities from FEMA to HUD and the redirection of some funds that the Administration's new supplemental appropriations request seeks for FEMA.

After opening presentations, the panelists will take questions.

To participate, please register by e-mailing spillane@cbpp.org, or calling the media team at 202-408-1080.

Media may register online at http://www.cbpp.org/confcall.htm

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