The Ida Sheltering Program is coming to an end on Tuesday, April 30, according to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) -- The Ida Sheltering Program is officially coming to an end on Tuesday, April 30, according to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

GOHSEP said that in the beginning, the state-operated program received federal support but that has changed. Officials said the state has been covering the costs for more than a year.

The initial end date for the program was set for May 31, 2023. An extension was granted for the use of travel trailer units.

Families affected by Hurricane Ida, a Category 4 storm in August 2021, received travel trailers through this program. GOHSEP said those in the shelter program have been given information about the deadline and have been urged to find other housing.

“The state was fortunate to have FEMA approve and support this first-of-its kind program to areas devastated by Ida,” said GOHSEP Director Jacques Thibodeaux. “Through the hard work of staff here at GOHSEP, the first units were purchased and in place within a month of the storm. That is much faster than most emergency housing units can be rolled out after an event.”

Seven parishes that were impacted by Hurricane Ida had access to the travel trailer units through the sheltering program. At the peak of the program, GOHSEP said, the program had 5,400 units sheltering over 15,000 people. In comparison, the number of units now used is nearly 600.

Officials said the April deadline does not impact survivors currently housed in FEMA's Direct Housing Units or other programs.

GOHSEP said that families should keep in touch with their Disaster Case Manager. When families leave their unit, GOHSEP asks that they call 844-268-0301.

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