RISE making some progress

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The agency in charge of West Virginia’s long-term flood relief effort has completed one more house.

The total number homes completed through West Virginia RISE is now 21.

West Virginia’s RISE program has drawn criticism over the past half-year for the pace at which it has administered millions of dollars in long-term flood relief from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The number of outstanding cases is now 427 after three additional homes were added to the active projects list, according to an update issued Tuesday by the West Virginia National Guard.

Of those, 166 cases require total reconstruction, 159 cases require some form of rehabilitation and 102 cases require new mobile home unit replacement.

The housing effort is a continued to response to the devastating 2016 West Virginia floods.

National Guard Adjutant Gen. James Hoyer was placed in charge of the long-term flood relief effort in June in response to a languishing effort.

As of July 31, HUD continued to label West Virginia a “slow spender,” an official designation.

West Virginia had $149,875,000 available and had spent $147,802,990.

HUD says that pace averages out to $311,114 a month over the past three months.

Anyone who still needs assistance may contact the VOAD hotline for initial evaluation at 304-220-2570.

A hotline is also available for anyone needing to report fraud with regard to the RISE West Virginia program at 1-866-WVWATCH (1-866-989-2824).