The Mississippi Alternative Housing Program is a pilot program implemented by FEMA and administered by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). The mission of the program is to develop, produce and test a safer and more comfortable temporary housing unit for use in future disasters. Additionally the mission is to assist homeowners with their transition from travel trailers and mobile homes to long-term housing they may also opt to purchase. The program is time-sensitive; specific goals to occur. TL Wallace Construction, Inc. competitively won the initial MEMA haul/install and repair/maintenance contracts and was instrumental in its success.

With the program nearing completion, MEMA issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for competitive sealed proposals for deactivation and transportation of cottage units, and TL Wallace Construction again was the winner.

The scope not only includes the deactivation of the temporary units in a safe and secure manner, but also included reactivation procedures to be followed in the permanent installation of such units as a State solution to long-term housing needs by disaster victims along the Gulf Coast, with various specific levels of rehabilitation of the temporary housing units such as:

Reactivation of the temporary housing units into permanent residency.

Transportation of the housing units to their permanent location and the affixation of the housing units to their permanent foundations.

Elevation of up to 5 feet, 7 inches of some units from their temporary installation to a permanent installation, depending upon flood map requirements.

As the first and only MEMA haul and install contractor, TL Wallace Construction, Inc. provides the benchmark for service in this industry for the State of Mississippi. This is our home! Our company was founded in Mississippi almost 40 years ago, and our employees live in the affected areas and have attended church and school here for generations. Disasters are never easy, and even though established procedures are in place, the impact on the effected individual can be devastating and have long term effects. Transitioning living quarters in the middle of disaster recovery is no less traumatic, and can be one of the most critical. These are our neighbors and their feelings and belongings will always be treated with respect. We will never forget the “human” element of this program and remain flexible in our approach to each and every situation.