Evicted and No Place To Go - Katrina Aftermath

[Catherine Vincent]

KATRINA'S AFTERMATH
Housing changes begin to unravel Katrina victims' lives
Rent subsidy programs migrate to new agencies

By LESLIE CASIMIR
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle



Dec. 20, 2007, 12:22AM - On a rainy afternoon two days before Thanksgiving,
Dawn Haynes was driving when she spotted the family of five sitting on the
steps of Gospel Baptist Church.

Three adults and two children were huddled under an awning, clutching luggage
and looking lost. Mystified, she stopped her car. They told her they were former
New Orleanians and that the family had been evicted from its northwest Houston
apartment after losing federal housing assistance. Haynes was shocked.

''I haven't thought about the people from Hurricane Katrina being homeless before,
until I came across this family," said Haynes, who lives in Acres Homes and has
helped place Brenda Hickman and her family in various motels.

This is not rare. More than two years after Hurricane Katrina transplanted
thousands of New Orleanians into Houston, the lives of the most vulnerable —
the unemployed and working poor — are starting to unravel. Once kept afloat on
federal rental assistance, these families are losing their benefits and are ending
up on Houston's streets, activists and social workers say. The families are going
from cheap motel to cheap motel or doubling up in other people's homes, sleeping in
armchairs or on floors. Those lucky to have transportation are living in their cars.

''We have gone from pillar to post," Hickman said. ''I can't see myself living on
the streets." The 59-year-old was disqualified from rental assistance after she broke
up with her husband who was designated as the head of the household — thus, the sole
recipient for FEMA rental assistance.

...more
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5392785.html

What's also sad are the comments after the article. Take a look at the comments after the article from compassionate Americans out there.

[Sugar Smack]

1. My god. Sad article. Some of those responses were despicable.

:grr: :nuke:

[Wcross]

2. Seems to me this particular family should qualify for section 8 housing.

I have to wonder why the husband still qualifies for FEMA housing when the rest of the family is no longer living with him. Seems like whoever continued raising the children should continue receiving aid.
At some point people will HAVE to transition off of FEMA assistance. The woman in this article clearly should qualify for section eight housing. Five children & only a part time job is not a viable situation.

[MikeNearMcChord]

3. To those who makes such sick comments

Karma is a mother when it happens to you.

[flashl]

4. K&R n/t

[nancyr]

5. Such compassionate comments.

I think I've about given up on the human race. What on earth is wrong with people who feel this way toward the more unfortunate?!

[flashl]

6. Those types of comments are far more common than you would want to believe.

I keep hope because I know there are good people out there.