SIGN ON
SIGN ON
We, the undersigned, are residents of Western NC, and other concerned persons, who are urgently calling on FEMA to make sure that our displaced community members are not thrown out into the streets in the middle of winter.
We all saw Hurricane Helene tragically wipe out homes with floodwater. But the housing disaster we are now facing is entirely man-made, based on the deliberate decision to cut off hotel vouchers. It too will produce a devastating human cost.
If our community members are not given the relief they need now, their lives, and the lives of their families, will be put at immediate risk in freezing temperatures. Many do not have any other housing options, a working vehicle or a job. Many are full-time caretakers of children, elderly family and others with disabilities.
It is unconscionable that survivors of Helene would now be doubly victimized by their own government. The resources do exist with the federal government to provide relief so our neighbors can survive. If the federal government can find limitless resources for bank bailouts and wars abroad, they can find them for an emergency like this.
We call on FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell, FEMA Region 4 administrator Robert Samaan, and any other relevant authorities to use their resources to make sure every Helene survivor in the impacted areas has continuous access to housing, food and heat for the foreseeable future, until each affected person has the ability to provide for themselves once again.
We demand:
1. Extend hotel vouchers until each resident has the ability to obtain secure housing.
2. Use funds to repair and build permanent housing for all residents who have lost their homes.
3. Provide sufficient shelter, food, and heat for any resident who has already been made homeless.
These are modest and simple demands. To refuse them would be an act of cruelty and gross negligence. The media and the politicians all gave extensive coverage to this area when Helene hit. They have moved on, but the people are still there, and we demand they not be abandoned in their hour of need.
Full federal relief now!