Jun. 11, 2009 (United Press International) -- The Road Home program, initially reviled by New Orleans homeowners, apparently has ended its post-Katrina work with some support, observers say.
Three years after Louisiana officials hired a Virginia company to handle the largest disaster recovery program in U.S. history, the Road Home is described by the New Orleans Times-Picayune as a force for both ruin and rebuilding.
The contract with ICF International (NASDAQ:ICFI) ended Thursday. ICF is reported generally despised by Louisianians and essentially banned from new business with the state because of its first two frustrating years.
Sky-high expectations led to acute homeowner disappointment with a slow start and poor initial performance in the first two years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
But, the Road Home eventually came through for most the third year, The Times-Picayune said. It has paid more than 124,000 homeowners $8.1 billion, with nine in 10 using the money to rebuild.
When a federal fraud trial involving Road Home came up this month, 50 prospective jurors were questioned about their feelings about the program. Twenty-seven said they collected money and only one had a negative view.
