A Denham Springs couple whose home was flooded in 2016 is suing HUD in an effort to access Restore grant money. The couple’s lawyer, J.R. Whaley, says the suit against HUD is for their inaction in correcting the issue, saying many were eligible, yet not qualified for further help due to their use of an SBA loan.
“That doesn’t even make sense, ‘eligible, but not qualified,’ but that just shows the bureaucratic nonsense that flood victims are caught in and it’s a result of HUD just simply not doing its job,” said Whaley.
Whaley says HUD has offered excuse after excuse for delays in changing their rules as they were ordered to do, with HUD crediting the latest slowdown due to the recent government shutdown.
“The law is clear and there shouldn’t be any delay. It’s the delay in and of itself that is the problem,” said Whaley.
Whaley says the goal is to get HUD to follow the law and has made sure to shape the suit in a manner to not slow things down even further in the court system.
“We’ve specifically crafted the lawsuit in a way that we hope doesn’t get bogged down procedurally or get bogged down with a lot of other delays,” said Whaley.
