Puerto Rican evacuees face homelessness in Philadelphia

Over 1,500 evacuees from Hurricane Maria that devastated Puerto Rico last September, most of them housed by relatives in the Fairhill section of Philadelphia, need access to housing resources in Philadelphia. But instead of increased aid, 87 families are losing their Federal Emergency Management Agency housing assistance via Temporary Shelter Assistance programs on Feb. 14 and are in danger of becoming homeless.

A rally across from City Hall on Feb. 12 featured a mother and her three sons, as well as other families threatened with homelessness in a few days unless city and state officials extend the TSA programs. Speakers called on Gov. Tom Wolf and Mayor Jim Kenney to provide full funding for long-term housing for every Puerto Rican evacuee. They also demanded a professional case worker/advocate to help evacuees navigate the overly complex and faulty FEMA process and find health care resources.