Program would put disaster survivors in apartments

Amid criticism of its ability to act as landlord to the growing numbers of Americans losing their homes to wildfires, storms and other natural disasters, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is revising how it provides transitional housing for those most in need of government help.

The current options, which often rely on moving families into FEMA-RUN trailer parks, would be supplemented by a new program offering subsidized apartments and extensive case management to help disaster survivors find a permanent place to live, something social service workers and housing advocates say has been lacking.

The initiative is targeted to be ready by March, ahead of hurricane season.