Hurricane Katrina dealt a severe blow to over a million people in Louisiana and the coastal regions of Mississippi and had repercussions throughout the Gulf region.1 Low-income families and individuals in particular bore the brunt of the storm and flooding, losing their homes, jobs, and resources for recovery. Public programs had served many of these people before the hurricane hit, and many others became newly eligible as a result of it. But the impact of Katrina strained the essential components of these programs, including their funding arrangements and eligibility and benefit standards. It raised critical questions about the programs' ability to respond swiftly and fairly to families and individuals affected by the storm, and about state and local governments' incentives to respond effectively to victims' needs.