Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) on January 8 called on FEMA to extend the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program in Puerto Rico through the end of the 2018 school year. He also called for FEMA and HUD to begin to work together to provide longer-term housing solutions, including tapping into existing networks of local housing authorities to provide rental assistance and case management services. “I saw firsthand during my visit last week the ongoing economic and humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico, where much of the island still lacks power and clean water,” said Mr. Blumenthal, “and the federal response has been a shameful disgrace.” In October, Senators Blumenthal and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) wrote to FEMA to urge the agency to enter into an interagency agreement with HUD to allow displaced families in Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida and the Virgin Islands to access housing assistance. FEMA has yet to respond.
Related Content
House Passes New Disaster Aid Package, but Senate Remains at Impasse
Congress is still at an impasse over a disaster aid package that would provide billions of dollars to impacted communities across the country. While the Senate struggles to reach a compromise, the…
May 13, 2019Additional Disaster Housing Recovery Updates – May 13, 2019
The following is a review of additional disaster housing recovery developments since the last edition of Memo to Members and Partners (for the article in the previous Memo, see 5/6). 2018 California…
May 13, 2019Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition Provides Recommendations for Equitable Access to Assistance
The Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition (DHRC) – an NLIHC-led group of over 800 national, state, and local organizations – sent a letter on April 30 to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)…
May 10, 2019