As the federal housing
voucher program approaches yet another deadline, dozens of Puerto Rican families living in FEMAsponsored hotels in Florida could face homelessness.
Dozens of Puerto Rican families living in FEMA-sponsored hotels in Florida could soon be on the street, as the federal housing voucher program approaches another deadline in a week.
Out of 200 families living in 39 states and Puerto Rico whose applications were not renewed for an extension of the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, 79 of them are in Florida, FEMA said in a call with the press Tuesday.
Their vouchers are valid through Feb. 14.
About 3,926 families have benefited from the program, FEMA said. The agency said the rest of the families would remain in the hotels until March 20, the program’s deadline.
Spokespeople for FEMA said the hotel assistance program is only temporary and it provides emergency support for people who have lost their homes until they can make new arrangements.
According to FEMA, the agency has been in contact with families benefiting from the program to determine their needs and identify their housing plans. Spokespeople said FEMA needs to be responsible with taxpayer and federal money.
As of Jan. 19, FEMA has spent more than $21 million to house Puerto Ricans displaced by the storm since the housing program was implemented, a FEMA spokesperson said.
“The reality is that my fellow Puerto Ricans are still arriving in Florida in great numbers, every day. Our state does not have the resources to manage this influx without any help with transition,” said Florida Rep. Darren Soto, DOrlando.
“There are children who are in the middle of their school year who could be without a home next week, with their families. We keep urging FEMA to approve an extension of the TSA program beyond the current deadline, particularly for those who aren’t eligible for the Direct Lease program,” he added.
The decision to extend the program for Florida is mostly up to Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, who has until the March 20 deadline to do so. Although they didn’t specify how much, FEMA spokespeople said the government of Puerto Rico would have to assume part of the expenses.
Rep. Bob Cortes, R-Altamonte Springs, said this was a situation that should be tended to urgently, but acknowledges that the state has no control over federal programs which are meant to temporary.
“That’s between Puerto Rico and FEMA,” he said. “Folks need to realize that FEMA will not be there all the time and those programs will sunset.”
But he stressed that Rosselló should authorize the Direct Lease housing program, which could pay up to 18 months of rent directly to the landlords of tenants affected by Hurricane Maria.
“Theoretically, they will become homeless,” said Cortes, who said the weight could end up falling on the counties. “And those shelters will be paid by, guess whom? FEMA.”