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West Virginia Governor Announces Changes in Flood Housing Program
By: Associated Press
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – Gov. Jim Justice has named the head of the West Virginia National Guard to oversee a program for federal housing assistance to 2016 flood victims after complaints that residents had received no help.
Justice said Monday that Adjutant General James Hoyer will take control of the RISE West Virginia program. The program had previously been handled by the state Department of Commerce.
The governor says he temporarily stopped the program after it was discovered a contract change order for $17 million had not been properly vetted. A subsequent investigation uncovered problems within the Commerce Department and the RISE program, which has $150 million to work with from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Justice says “now that we’ve exposed the problems, I think you’ll see movement immediately.”