NYT: Katrina Evacuees Find Housing Grants Will End Soon

[DeepModem Mom]

Evacuees Find Housing Grants Will End Soon
By SHAILA DEWAN
Published: April 27, 2006

HOUSTON, April 21 — Thousands of hurricane evacuees who counted on a year of free housing and utilities are being told by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that they are no longer eligible for such help and must either pay the rent themselves or leave.

Of about 55,000 families who were given long-term housing vouchers, nearly a third are receiving notices that they no longer qualify, FEMA officials said. For the rest, benefits are also being cut: they will have to sign new leases, pay their own gas and electric bills and requalify for rental assistance every three months.

The process has been marked by sharp disagreements between the agency and local officials, and conflicting information given to evacuees about their futures. Although agency officials say they never promised a full year of free housing, many local officials around the country say yearlong vouchers were exactly what FEMA agreed to provide....

***

In the desperate weeks after Hurricane Katrina, the vouchers helped stabilize the lives of evacuees who had bounced from place to place while trying to find missing family members and deal with mysterious skin rashes, shellshocked children and reams of red tape. At least, the vouchers promised, they would not have to worry about shelter.

Now, eight months later, the notices have panicked evacuees and raised the ire of local officials and landlords, who say FEMA is reneging on a promise and dismantling a program that is helping more people and is far less expensive than other housing solutions like trailers....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/27/us/27vouchers.html?hp&ex=1146196800&en=59eddaec9f6c6d2c&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[IndyJones]

1. FEMA should have to at least tell them WHY they no longer quaify.

Seems pretty lame to say people don't qualify and then not give a reason so they can appeal. I mean, if they don't, they don't, but give a legitimate reason why before cutting someone off.

[Blaq Dem]

2. That's a damn shame

I hope everyone remembers this when election comes around.