Cottages

Not sure that cottages are a major breakthrough, but I suppose they are better than trailers. FEMA is piloting a program to move Katrina-impacted families into cottages.

Residents of a large FEMA trailer park behind the Ocean Springs Civic Center where one temporary home burned last week said they would move into a Katrina cottage if given the choice.

Some had read news reports about a pilot program unveiled Thursday that seeks to replace government-issued trailers with Katrina cottages, which are safer, more-permanent structures than the travel trailers or mobile homes issued by FEMA. The cottages also more closely resemble traditional housing.

Permanent housing is the best option -- but any progress has to be good.

Hopefully FEMA will do a better job on this.