HUD Approves Disaster Recovery Funding with Additional Oversight for Territories

HUD approved the latest Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) state action plans from Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Approval for both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands come with additional fiscal controls and HUD oversight. These states and territories will now have access to additional disaster recovery funding: $518 million for Florida, $779 million for the Virgin Islands, and $8.2 billion for Puerto Rico.

HUD has not provided specifics regarding the financial controls they plan to implement for the territories. Some advocates express concerns that additional bureaucracy will further delay funding, and others contend additional oversight will help programs run more effectively and equitably. All advocates stress that whatever controls are put in place must help ensure survivors receive the assistance they need with efficiency, fairness, and accountability. Groups working in Puerto Rico have already expressed concerns the government’s recovery plan will not provide sufficient resources to low-income communities.