FEMA extends lodging aid for Harvey victims

Shelter assistance program continued through Oct. 24

Tens of thousands of displaced Hurricane Harvey victims relying on federal assistance to pay for hotel rooms will be eligible for two more weeks of aid.

Tens of thousands of displaced Hurricane Harvey victims relying on federal assistance to pay for hotel rooms will be eligible for two more weeks of aid after officials extended a housing assistance program, the federal government announced Sunday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency extended the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program two weeks until Oct. 24. The program, which is re-evaluated every two weeks based on need, had been set to end Tuesday.

“That’s basically what FEMA does: It examines the people who are there, how they are recovering,” said FEMA spokesman Marcel Bright.

The program’s extension comes as the Houston region and the state continue to reel from Harvey’s impact. The storm dropped up to 52 inches of rain in Harris County and killed almost 80 across the state.

Bright said that as of Sunday, more than 24,500 hotel rooms in almost 2,000 hotels were occupied by Harvey victims still looking for housing under the program.

In Houston, thousands of people waited in line Friday to take advantage of an emergency food aid program that had helped more than 200,000 people, even as the deadline rapidly approached that evening. It’s unclear if the state will extend the deadline.

Meanwhile, people continue to register with FEMA for aid. Total registrations reached more than 860,000 as of Friday, the latest figures available. FEMA has approved nearly $760 mllion for housing assistance.

Nearly 900 survivors were staying in 7 shelters.

People receiving hotel assis-

tance from FEMA under the program should receive a phone call telling them whether they are eligible for the extension and what they need to do to remain at their current hotel or find a new hotel.

FEMA pays directly for the room and applicable taxes.

A family of four or fewer members is authorized for one hotel room, and a household of five or more is authorized additional rooms. One member of each household 18 or older must reside in each room.

TSA-eligible applicants must find and book their own hotel rooms. The list of participating hotels is on www.DisasterAssistance. gov, under the link Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program or by phoning the FEMA helpline at 800-321-3362.