Velázquez Calls on Bush Administration to Review Post-Hurricane Housing Policies Cost-Effective,Longer Term Alternatives Needed to Assist Displaced...
Velázquez Calls on Bush Administration to Review Post-Hurricane Housing Policies Cost-Effective, Longer Term Alternatives Needed to Assist Displaced Residents
October 28, 2005
NEW YORK - In the aftermath of the widespread destruction caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita across the Gulf Coast region - and now Wilma in Florida - Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) urged President Bush to reconsider current emergency housing plans that have given way to wasteful government spending on hotels, cruise ships, and trailers in favor of other less costly proposals.
"In light of numerous reports that victims of these recent hurricanes are not receiving the aid they need in a timely and cost-effective manner, I am extremely concerned about the current situation facing evacuees," Congresswoman Velázquez said. "In the two months that have passed since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, an estimated 500,000 to 900,000 people are homeless and could remain this way for months to come. This administration needs to offer victims long term options, by making rental units or Section 8 vouchers available so families and individuals are able to begin rebuilding their lives. Cruise ships, trailers, and hotels are not what I would call a long term or fiscally responsible solution to this problem."
In a letter to the Bush administration, Congresswoman Velázquez - the only Member of the New York City delegation and second in seniority on the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity - outlined what has been done to date to provide assistance for displaced hurricane victims. She called on the President to provide a more detailed, coordinated, and efficient plan of action.
FEMA has recently extended its $4 million-a-day program that houses more than 200,000 evacuees in hotel rooms, despite the fact that this hotel program is proving to be yet another unsuccessful, expensive and temporary solution to a very long-term crisis. According to the National Apartment Association, there are currently one million vacant rental units in the southeastern United States with rents ranging from $700 to $1,200 per month - nearly half the rate of FEMA's $1,770 per month hotel program. Another option is to expand the availability of housing vouchers to Hurricane victims. These vouchers cost less than half the amount of a daily hotel room, and have the ability to provide a stable living environment to those in need of assistance.
"With housing efforts to date being largely uncoordinated and inefficient, it is time to reassess the current system," Congresswoman Velázquez said. "Hurricane victims throughout the Gulf Coast and Florida continue to take steps toward rebuilding their lives by reuniting with family, seeking employment, and attending schools - but they need more. We must ease their concerns about where they will live by ensuring the availability of stable, cost-effective, long-term housing that they can call home."
Included is the letter Congresswoman Velázquez sent to the Bush administration on this issue.
http://www.house.gov/velazquez/PressReleases/2005/pr102805.htm