Housing Refugees from Puerto Rico

More Puerto Rican refugees are arriving in Florida every day and Hispanic lawmakers in the state legislature are asking FEMA for housing help. 

Representative Rene Plasencia, an Orlando Republican, says many of the evacuees are staying with family but that can only last for so long.

"The honeymoon period is over at some point," he said. "So, we'll have families who are staying with aunts, uncles, cousins, distant relatives or friends ... but after three, four, five weeks they feel like it's time for them to move on and try to find their own place.

Senator Victor Torres, an Orlando Democrat, says housing was a problem long before Irma and Maria.

"There was a great need for affordable workforce housing prior to this crisis, which now has been compounded," he said.

Lawmakers are asking FEMA to set up emergency housing to provide temporary shelter as the refugees try to rebuild their lives.


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