FEMA to break promise on 100,000 HOUSTON Katrina leases. Merry Holiday! [View All]

FEMA squeezes city over apartment leases
The agency's demands could make Houston break promise to 100,000 exiles


By ERIC BERGER
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Unless federal policy changes soon, Houston will find itself in an embarrassing position three months from today — breaking a key promise made to hurricane evacuees in their most desperate hour. Despite written statements to the contrary, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will cease honoring the 24,000 year-long leases, backed by the city, signed between hurricane evacuees and local apartment landlords.

As a result the city could fail to deliver on a promise made to nearly 100,000 storm-ravaged evacuees from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita — a safe roof over their heads for a year.

Landlords, who are accepting tenants without a security deposit or credit checks, would be left with scores of families unable to pay their rent.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3497624.html