Scott Powers
Evacuees seeking a place to live in Florida after Hurricane Maria wrecked their homes in Puerto Rico will get another two months of a program that allows them to use federal vouchers to live in hotels or motels.
FEMA has extended the Transitional Shelter Assistance Program, set to expire Jan. 13, to March 20, U.S. Rep. Darren Soto of Orlando announced Wednesday.
FEMA extended to program at the request of Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, recognizing the tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans who fled to Florida in the past three months, but arrived in regions where affordable housing is scarce. Latest word from the Florida Division of Emergency Management is more than 300,000 people have traveled from the island to Florida since early October, though no one is certain how many have stayed.
“I would like to thank Puerto Rico’s Governor Rosselló for requesting and FEMA for approving a 60-day extension to the TSA/Hotel Voucher program,” Soto said in a news release. “This will help thousands of recent Puerto Rican families relocating to Central Florida with temporary housing. We will continue to work with the Puerto Rico Government to get a direct lease program and make sure we provide adequate housing assistance for those Puerto Ricans still in need.”
2 comments
Carlos Ramirez
January 5, 2018 at 4:54 pm
Hello Mr. Powers
Im one of the PR evacuees in living at a hotel in FL with the aid of thr TSA program. At this moment I dont have any place to move and my time at the hotel expires this 1/13/18. I called Fema to know about my TSA extension request and they told me that the extension was denied or that they dont have any info about th extension. At this moment I have no job yet neither a place to move. Any help from you would be really appreciated. Please contact me.
Damaris Lorenzo
January 5, 2018 at 6:11 pm
I would like to address I am a PR evacuee and currently in a hotel paid for by FEMA in Clearwater…I was only extended until 14 of February not until the 20th of march as stipulated….I came from PR on Oct 10 because of medical condition and lack of resources…I am under going treatment and will have about 3 more surguries the first one being on the 25th of January….I also have a mentally challenged child and so far her treatment is scarce….I was denied housing by FEMA…..I really don’t know how they are evaluating the cases…I will again appeal and hope for the best….Thanks a concerned mother
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