Some Irma storm victims still homeless

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

With time running out for hurricane housing assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 103 Key West families are still living in hotel emergency housing.

FEMA Coordinating Officer Mark Landry told Key West City Commissioners on Dec. 5 that emergency housing payments to area hotels will end on Jan. 7 unless the deadline is extended. The original deadline for hotel housing assistance was Dec. 3 but with FEMA having difficulty finding alternate homes for storm victims, that was pushed to Jan. 7. Landry didn’t know whether the new deadline would be extended but FEMA has already begun to shut down its temporary offices throughout Florida.

“The intent is to get people out of hotels, to work them back into a residence or some way to get their housing plan moving forward,” Landry said, adding, “We’re making progress. It’s slow but we’re very much making progress.”

A total of 189 Monroe County “households,” or families, are currently living in hotels in the Florida Keys, including 371 people housed in 194 hotels rooms in Key West. There are a total of 28 Key West hotels participating in the FEMA emergency housing program.

“That’s roughly the same amount of hotels as during the Fantasy Fest, so your hotels have been pretty consistent in their ability to serve those survivors here in Key West, as well as other places in Monroe County,” Landry said.

If the Jan. 7 deadline is not extended and those storm victims cannot find housing, Landry said FEMA would open “dialogues” with faith-based organizations, volunteer groups, foundations and Monroe County officials. Landry said no one wants to leave anyone without housing, particularly during the holidays.

“You know, that would be our priority,” said Key West City Commissioner Sam Kaufman, “that our residents don’t become homeless as a result of what may be an arbitrary deadline, Jan. 7. What’s special about that day in particular?”

Landry urged storm victims who applied for FEMA assistance but were denied to appeal the decision. The denial could have been made because of a small, procedural reason. By providing a missing piece of information, eligibility might be granted, he said. Landry also said that appeals have a better chance if the applicant goes in person to the Key West temporary FEMA office, located at 3126 Flagler Ave. That office may be shut down soon, he added, so residents should not wait to make their appeal. The office is open from 9 am-7 pm Monday through Saturday.

Across Florida, FEMA has paid out $2.2 billion through its federal flood insurance program and loans from the Small Business Administration. Monroe County residents have received $56 million in aid. Over 40,000 county residences applied for assistance after Hurricane Irma hit on Sept. 10.

“That’s almost half of the population here in Monroe County,” Landry said.

Despite the Nov. 24 deadline for applying for FEMA assistance having passed, Landry said appeals are possible on an individual basis. If there are people who still need some level of assistance, FEMA, “with some deliberation,” can accommodate that, he said.

Although only three to six buildings in Key West were seriously damaged or destroyed by Irma, city officials still reported 57 “damage elements,” including debris removal and emergency recovery efforts. Key West has applied for $45 million in FEMA reimbursement. Landry said 11 of the 57 damage elements have been processed and the city has been paid $24 million so far.

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