Congressman Serrano Leads Letter Urging Trump Administration to Stand Up Disaster Housing Assistance Program After Puerto Rico Earthquakes

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Rep. Jose E. Serrano, D-New York, issued the following news release:

Congressman Jose E. Serrano led a group of New York Representatives in sending a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator, Peter T. Gaynor, urging the agency to enter into an agreement with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to allow the Department to put into effect the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP) as soon as possible in response to the multiple earthquakes in Puerto Rico. DHAP was used after both Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy to allow affected families to access safe and affordable housing after those disasters. The letter was signed by Representatives Espaillat, Ocasio-Cortez, and Velazquez from New York.

"Thousands of families have been forced to leave Puerto Rico for the 50 States, including New York, because the earthquakes have destroyed their homes and livelihoods. A recent CNN article described the situation of one family of 14 to 16 people that have been forced to live in a two-bedroom apartment in New York City because they have nowhere else to go./1 They are having trouble meeting basic needs. At a time of crisis such as the current one, it is our duty to assist those who have been forced to leave the island.," the members wrote.

"DHAP has been utilized to assist those similarly affected by previous major disasters. This program would help families afford rent, a security deposit, and utility costs if forced to relocate to temporary housing. It will ensure that our fellow Americans will have the resources needed to recover from this latest disaster without endangering the health and well-being of their loved ones. We ask that FEMA act quickly to approve DHAP for the affected families and individuals," they added.

Learn more about the program here:

https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/publications/dhap

https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/DAHP-Program.pdf