Senator Charles Schumer called on FEMA on Tuesday to extend the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program beyond the standard two week extension into the spring, when warmer temperatures will permit Superstorm Sandy victims to live in homes undergoing repairs.
In his letter to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Schumer calls the TSA program a success but asks why approval periods have only been granted in approximately two-week periods.
“Given the breadth and depth of Superstorm Sandy’s damages and the amount of work disaster survivors have to complete before homes are considered safe and habitable, it simply common sense to extend TSA for a reasonable period of time longer than two weeks,” Schumer wrote.
Last week, FEMA announced that the TSA program would be extended two weeks to accommodate the needs of those displaced by Superstorm Sandy. Eligible applicants are situated in participating hotels and motels as repairs are completed on their homes to make them livable once again.
The deadline for applications was Jan. 26, with a Feb. 10 checkout.
Schumer is concerned that displaced families will now be seeking shelter during the remainder of the cold season.
“These families have suffered enough because of Sandy and FEMA should extend shelter assistance so that displaced families are not left in the cold while they rebuild their homes,” Schumer said. “I am relieved that FEMA extended the assistance through February 10th, however, this is just not enough. Extending the TSA program through the spring will ensure these families a warm place to stay during these cold winter months.”
There has been no word on any further extensions of the TSA program.
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