U.S. set to help FEMA trailer families

WASHINGTON, June 3 (UPI) -- The Obama administration says it will offer U.S. Gulf Coast storm victims still living in government-issued trailers help in finding new housing.

In an effort set to be announced Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said it would step in with in $50 million in new housing voucher rental assistance to Gulf Coast housing authorities as an eviction deadline for those living in the trailers passes, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported.

The trailers were issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency after 2005's Hurricane Katrina, and were meant to be temporary. Four years later, FEMA set a deadline for this week for people occupying the temporary housing to get out.

"As the FEMA temporary housing program ends, HUD is stepping up to ensure that we provide the resources needed to help these families transition, " Fred Tombar, HUD senior adviser for disaster and recovery programs, told the newspaper.

The HUD effort also includes providing more personal assistance for every family still in temporary housing as well as offering those families a chance to buy the mobile homes from FEMA for as little as $1, the Times-Picayune said.