Evacuated Louisiana residents living in hotels during the aftermath of Hurricane Ida can now get assistance to cover the cost of their stay.
Governor John Bel Edwards announced that President Joe Biden approved his request to activate the Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program.
A FEMA press release says in part:
If you are eligible for Transitional Shelter Assistance, FEMA will pay the cost of staying with certain shelter providers for a limited period of time. Covered costs are for the cost of the room and taxes, and any other expenses are not included. Search the following list of participating locations to see if they have availability in the area you have selected. Because room availability changes rapidly, please call the accommodation provider before you travel to ensure that the accommodation provider can meet your needs.
“I am extremely grateful to Pres. Biden and FEMA for activating the Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program, which is going to bring much-needed temporary housing for the survivors of Hurricane Ida,” said Gov. Edwards. “Because of the storm’s extensive damage, thousands of our citizens are displaced and this program will provide them with critical short-term housing as they recover and rebuild their lives. Housing was at a critical shortage before the storm and that problem has been exacerbated as a result of the widespread damage. I want to encourage everyone who needs assistance to apply immediately.”
The TSA program is for eligible survivors with a damaged dwelling address within the federally designated parishes of Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.
TSA-eligible applicants must find and book their own hotel rooms. The list of participating hotels will be posted on DisasterAssistance.gov, under the link Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program or you can get it by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. For TTY, call 800-462-7585. For 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.
They are eligible to stay in hotels in the following states: Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.