NYT/AP: FEMA Appeals Katrina Housing Order
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: December 5, 2006
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration is challenging a court order requiring it to make housing payments to thousands of families whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon said last week that confusing, often contradictory letters to hurricane victims from the Federal Emergency Management Agency didn't explain why housing funding was cut. He said that violated the Constitution, and he ordered the agency to restart the program immediately.
FEMA said Tuesday it would appeal that ruling....
''If FEMA worked half as hard helping survivors get back on their feet as they do at dodging their responsibilities, thousands of families could be back home by now,'' ACORN president Maude Hurd said in a statement released Tuesday night....
Leon criticized the agency's handling of the housing program and described the process as ''Kafkaesque.''...
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Katrina-Housing.html