The Naked Truth: Evicting hurricane victims politically incorrect
By Hilliard Lackey, Columnist
“I’ll be home for Christmas” is more than a notion for some Mississippians. In fact, it is becoming more and more unlikely for the 53,000 hurricane evacuees living in hotels with no homes and no place to go who are facing eviction come December 1.
With homes completely destroyed or otherwise rendered unlivable by Hurricane Katrina, displaced Mississippians may be on the move again.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been footing hotel bills since the onrush of Gulf Coast-area residents that were left homeless by Hurricane Katrina on August 29. Things are about to change.
According to published reports, in addition to ending hotel stays, FEMA also is requiring evacuees with housing vouchers to sign rental leases by December 1. No matter the circumstances of evacuees, the FEMA vouchers program ends March 1 of next year.
Governor Haley Barbour is appealing the December 1 deadline and seeking an extension. In all likelihood, an extension will be granted. The Bush administration can ill afford to do otherwise after having botched earlier hurricane relief efforts.
The American Red Cross initially provided emergency shelter in coliseums, churches, schools and other temporary sites. The second phase of Red Cross assistance was to relocate evacuees to houses, apartments, trailer homes and finally hotel rooms by mid-September.
FEMA stepped in during October and relieved the Red Cross of its financial obligation. Now, FEMA has set a deadline of December 1, to end federal assistance for evacuees in hotels. The challenge to find more permanent housing is also more than a notion.
There is a shortage of affordable housing throughout the state as evacuees have occupied most available units. Some 15,000 families are living in travel trailers brought in from points across the state and throughout the nation. Still, 53,000 people represent more residents than any other Mississippi city besides Jackson.
Going home, presents an intriguing set of challenges. First, there has to be a physical home to go to, and second, that home has to be functional in terms of having utilities, being mold-free and accessible to vehicular travel. More than a few Gulf Coast residents have returned to barren house sites and pitched tents just to be “home.” With the onset of cool to cold weather, living precariously in tents or in houses not fully operational is not advisable.
The Naked Truth: Mississippians displaced by the worst hurricane season in history are readying themselves for the grave possibility of not only not being home for Christmas but also not having a home for Christmas. At issue is the deadline of December 1 set by FEMA that summarily evicts evacuees, who are already without house or home, from hotel rooms. This presents yet another opportunity for the Bush administration to step in and do the right thing. Otherwise, the address of the “Grinch” who stole Christmas will be 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C.
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Dr. Hilliard Lackey may be contacted at hlackey@bellsouth.net.
