Kirk Watson: “in the months following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, FEMA sent notices to survivors indicating that they would receive…”

“in the months following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, FEMA sent notices to survivors indicating that they would receive up to 1 year of assistance. FEMA has recently announced that 55,000 families of Katrina survivors currently receiving housing emergency shelter assistance will have their housing assistance terminated or reduced significantly as of this May 31. Survivors are supposed to apply for assistance under section 408 and, if the application is accepted, they can reasonably expect further assistance up to 18 months from the date of the hurricane. Some reports indicate, however, that the rate of rejection has been as high as 80 percent or four out of five household applicants. Also, section 408 individualized rental assistance required reapplication every 3 months. Now, how many landlords offer 3-month leases? It has been a sham and a shame, Mr. Speaker. FEMA and this country has to do better to its evacuees. Mr. Speaker, in the months following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, FEMA sent notices to survivors indicating that they would receive up to one year of assistance. FEMA has recently announced that 55,000 families of Katrina survivors currently receiving housing ``emergency shelter'' assistance under Section 403 (Stafford Act) will have their housing assistance terminated or reduced significantly as of May 31, 2006.…”