FEMA to evict tens of thousands of Katrina victims

This latest move by FEMA will result in mass evictions and leave tens of thousands homeless. It the latest demonstration of the contempt and indifference of the Bush administration for ordinary working people still suffering three months after Katrina hit land.

More than 1 million people were displaced in the historic disaster, and in Texas alone, 15,000 people face immediate eviction from their apartments. Another 50,000 will not be able to pay December’s rent. In cities throughout the country, victims who cannot pull together the resources to meet the inflated rent prices are being shown the door. In Charlotte, North Carolina, for instance, 4,000 face eviction. FEMA has also announced that in the near future it move out 200,000 people it has housed in hotels, adding to the numbers of evictions.

FEMA currently offers no more than $2,358 for three months to cover all of the costs of living, which does not go very far for people who have lost everything. Because of the difficult filing process and other bureaucratic obstacles, many have not seen any money at all. In many cases, the checks were mailed to the victims’ addresses in New Orleans, where they have no chance of retrieving them.

Meanwhile, landlords have been free to take advantage of the tight market for living space to milk Katrina victims for every last penny. Some New Orleans landlords are even still charging rent to victims whose apartments were wiped out in the flood.

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http://wsws.org/articles/2005/nov2005/fema-n17.shtml