[ad_1]
The US District Court Judgment Timothy Hillman represents another small respite for families staying in hotels under the FEMA transitional assistance program – extending housing coupons up to $ 25,000. at the departure time on July 24th. is necessary. In a statement, FEMA spokeswoman William Booher declined to comment on ongoing litigation, but said the agency was notifying hotels harboring Puerto Rican hurricane survivors that the program was going to be extended until July 24 according to the court order.
The federal agency said last week that it was ending the program on June 30 after spending more than $ 432 million to house tens of thousands of survivors. hurricanes for 10 months.
Hillman on Tuesday ordered both parties to make additional submissions on the issue before making a final decision on July 23.
"It is inconceivable that victims of disasters will continue to lodge a complaint with the Court to force them to respect their mandate and not to interrupt the most basic help to entire communities that have suffered unimaginable disasters" said Natasha Lycia Ora Bannan, Associate Attorney of Latino Justice PRLDEF, in a statement.
"Fortunately, the court has recognized the seriousness of the situation and the devastating consequences for evacuees who have already been displaced from their homes in Puerto Rico and allows them to stay in their hotels."
The FEMA order to end the program Saturday touched nearly 1,800 Puerto Ricans staying at the time in hotels and motels of the island and the United States, where they lived at no cost through a coupon program. permanent housing.
Designed to be used for about two weeks, the program had been extended several times.
For many, the injunction arrived too late. Since the weekend, many families have left their hotel rooms – either by moving in with friends or relatives, returning to the island or transferring to local government housing families. homeless.
On Tuesday, 952 families stayed in hotel rooms paid for by the TSA on the island and in 27 states, according to FEMA.
Source link
