Politico
By: Bruce Ritchie
TALLAHASSEE — Hispanic legislators on Tuesday called on the state to provide affordable housing for Hurricane Maria evacuees from Puerto Rico and end sweeps of an affordable housing trust fund.
The governor’s office said earlier this month 367,000 people had arrived in Florida from Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria struck the island in September, knocking out power to most of the population while damaging homes, roads and businesses.
Over the past five years, more than $660 million has been swept from housing trust funds to help balance the state budget. Hispanic legislators said Tuesday during Puerto Rico Day at the Capitol that the sweeps need to stop but legislation to prevent it has stalled.
State Rep. John Cortes (D-Kissimmee) said evacuees cannot afford required security deposits for apartments and they face homelessness after federal hotel vouchers expire on March 20.
“Puerto Ricans are United States citizens — they are asking for a hand up, not a handout,” Cortes said. “And I’m tired of hearing they are here to get a handout.”
FL SB874 (18R)would exempt state and local housing trust funds from being raided stalled after passing one committee. A similar House bill, FL HB191, 18R
has not been heard in a committee.
State Rep. Amy Mercado (D-Orlando) said evacuees need job training and schools for their children in addition to affordable housing. She said the hundreds of millions of dollars that was swept could have paid for building projects that would be available for evacuees.
“Now we have a double crisis, right? Now you have how many more people without a place to stay that’s permanent?” she said.
Article last accessed here on February 21, 2018.