UN panel reviewing New Orleans housing problems

By Eileen Fleming

New Orleans, La. – The UN Advisory Group on Forced Evictions is making its first fact-finding mission to New Orleans, meeting with residents who are in crisis. They'll be talking with the homeless, former public-housing residents and others looking at rents that have soared since Hurricane Katrina. Spokeswoman Leilani Farha explains what the experts are trying to determine.
Farha says the panel will head to Washington for discussions with officials, then present a report to the UN. She says it could then trigger international diplomatic efforts to resolve housing problems in New Orleans.