Katrina evacuees
still face transition challenges
FEMA determining individual eligibility for
on-going assistance
SEATTLE—April 10, 2006—Evacuees from the
Gulf Coast area who have relocated to Seattle have begun to receive
letters informing them of their eligibility or ineligibility for
further housing assistance through FEMA.
These letters are
the result of FEMA’s move to transfer Hurricane Katrina evacuees
from the “Public Assistance Interim Housing Program,” also called
the “403 program,” to a new “Individual Assistance Program” called
the “408 program.” As many as half of the 160 Katrina families in
the Seattle area may be found ineligible for the new program.
The letters, from
the State of Washington Emergency Management Division, inform
evacuees of their status for continued assistance. For those who
have been found to be ineligible, the letter serves as a 30-day
notice and advises them that, “You must prepare now to move,
negotiate a new lease agreement with the landlord, or arrange with
the landlord to assume the rent payments on your existing lease.”
For evacuees who
continue to be eligible, the letter lets them know of their
continued eligibility and also states that “…the payment process is
a bit complex, so please read the following information carefully.”
Eligible residents are instructed to execute new leases with their
current landlords.
After May 31, the
Seattle Housing Authority will no longer make rent payments to
landlords housing Katrina evacuees. Instead, as the letter states,
the payments will be made directly by FEMA.
According to
Deputy Executive Director Andrew Lofton, “We are cooperating with
FEMA in trying to help evacuees understand their options. We intend
to find ways to continue assisting Katrina evacuees, and we hope to
work out details with the State for an alternate voucher assistance
program. We recognize that this may well be one more difficult
transition time for these residents, and we want to continue
assisting as many as possible.”
SHA has also
received information from the State’s Emergency Management Division
regarding the eligibility status of the households that have been
assisted through the Housing Authority. Within the next week, the
Housing Authority will send letters to those deemed to be ineligible
for further assistance with suggestions for next steps.
For an account of the experiences
of two Gulf Coast evacuees who have relocated to Seattle,
click here.
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