Hotel voucher program to end soon

Puerto Rico urged to extend housing aid for evacuees

Florida lawmakers are urging the Puerto Rican government to expand housing aid for evacuees fleeing the island, as the federal housing program is set to expire in less than a month.

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, released a bipartisan letter on Wednesday to the Federal Emergency Management Agency requesting an expansion of the federal Direct Lease program or a six-month extension of the Temporary Sheltering Assistance.

“Puerto Rican evacuees in Florida need housing. Florida needs assistance to support the housing needs of the Puerto Rican evacuees,” the letter reads.

FEMA’s Direct Lease program, which has been active on the island since Oct. 19, rents vacant units for people displaced by Hurricane Maria.

The program pays the monthly rent of qualifying families up to 18 months, minus utilities, FEMA spokesman Daniel Llargués said.

“We’re going one step further … we can’t wait any longer,” said Soto, who stressed his office has been in talks with Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló to expand the federal housing program to Florida for the past three weeks, to no avail.

As a designated host-state, Florida doesn’t have the authority to request this aid directly from FEMA, Llargués said. It must be requested by the Puerto Rican government and expanded into Florida.

“Puerto Rico has different issues than the state of Florida,” Soto said. “There’s a concern on the island that this will encourage people to stay in Florida … but we have to do something about it.”

Rosselló’s office could not be reached for comment.

The hotel voucher program, TSA, has benefited more than 1,300 displaced families in Florida, but it will end Jan. 13, Llargués said.

Gov. Rick Scott said he’s committed to helping the thousands of people displaced by the hurricane. “We are hopeful FEMA and Governor Rosselló find a solution to help all those displaced by Hurricane Maria,” he said.

On Monday, several Democratic legislators in Florida sent a letter to Rosselló asking his administration to request the Direct Lease program from FEMA.

“We have been meeting and working with State Emergency Management officials for months, but many of the programs available under FEMA can only be approved if the government of Puerto Rico asks for them to be implemented,” said Sen. Victor Torres, D-Orlando.

Rep. John Cortes, D-Kissimmee; Rep. Robert Asencio, D-Miami; and Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, also signed the letter.

Meanwhile, Rep. Bob Cortes, R-Altamonte Springs, said the state should work toward more long-term solutions, since the Direct Lease program wouldn’t address the affordable housing shortage in Florida.

“Even if it does get extended here, where would they go?” he said. “The last thing I want to do is give people false hope.”

Rep. Rene Plasencia, R-Orlando, said he supports the Democratic lawmakers’ efforts.

“If we’re helping Puerto Ricans, whether it’s here or in Puerto Rico, I think it’s the right way to go,” he said.

Since Oct. 3, more than 200,000 people have arrived in Florida from Puerto Rico. More than 10,000 Puerto Ricans have changed to Florida licenses with the Department of Motor Vehicles since the hurricane, and nearly 10,300 children have enrolled in schools across the state.