Blumenthal and Cassidy Call on FEMA to Prioritize Housing Assistance for Hurricane Victims

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) wrote to Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) Administrator Brock Long, urging him, in partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to prioritize the availability of affordable housing for displaced victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

“When disaster strikes, a major problem is displacement. Tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed and families have been in temporary shelters. That is the case now in Texas, Florida, the Virgin Islands, and especially Puerto Rico, where an estimated 10,000 people are living in shelters,” wrote the Senators. “We urge you to enter into an agreement with HUD immediately so that thousands of families and individuals have access to stable, affordable rental homes after enduring a nightmarish ordeal of displacement from their home.”

The Senators’ letter to FEMA is available for download here, and copied below.

To Administrator Long,

We write to urge you to take immediate action to ensure that all survivors of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria have a safe, affordable, and accessible home as they recover from these devastating natural disasters. To that end we urge you to enter an Interagency Agreement (IAA) with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

HUD has a vital role in addressing the housing needs of disaster survivors. HUD has decades of experience providing housing opportunities to some of our nation’s most vulnerable individuals families – including low income seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and other at-risk populations who are often the hardest-hit by disasters and have the fewest resources to recover afterwards.

When disaster strikes, a major problem is displacement. Tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed and families have been in temporary shelters. That is the case now in Texas, Florida, the Virgin Islands, and especially Puerto Rico, where an estimated 10,000 people are living in shelters. Through a network of existing programs, HUD may help victims to live in a safe, stable, and affordable home while they work to get back on their feet by providing rental assistance directly to survivors. For example, HUD may elect to use its existing network of local Public Housing Authorities (PHA) to administer tenant based rental assistance and provide case management services to impacted families. To achieve this, FEMA – your agency – must enter into an agreement for HUD to help carry out FEMA’s Individual Assistance programs.  FEMA and HUD have had IAA after other major recent disasters, like Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy. We urge you to enter into an agreement with HUD immediately so that thousands of families and individuals have access to stable, affordable rental homes after enduring a nightmarish ordeal of displacement from their home.

While the road ahead for recovery will take many years, FEMA should take immediate action to provide flexibility to allow displaced families and individuals to access housing assistance in any community where housing options are available.