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Jed Boal ReportingThere's good news for hurricane evacuees living in Utah, they won't be cut off financially this winter, the state will continue to pay their rent and utilities until further notice.
Right now the state is paying rent and utilities for nearly 200 apartments throughout Utah. FEMA reimburses those costs, but originally said it would stop paying March 1st. That deadline has been lifted, which is good news for the people who still need the help.
Hurricane Katrina evacuees survived devastation before they landed in Utah five months ago. The last thing they wanted was a deadline to cut off their assistance.
Ernest Timmons, Utah Reaching Out: "Some people who weren't employed yet were frantic, some weren't. They thought this is a thing we have to do, let's find another avenue."
When Ernest Timmons evacuated New Orleans he landed at Fort Williams with hundreds of others. Since that time, he's worked to help other evacuees.
Ernest Timmons: "Assistance will stop, then you have to become responsible for yourself. That's all we want, to be responsible individuals, part of the community."
He was a social worker in New Orleans and now helps evacuees deal with crises as they arise. Last week, the evacuees found out the state would continue to pay their rent and utilities. FEMA will continue to reimburse the state through its Public Assistance program.
Timmons says most evacuees aspire to support themselves and now consider Utah home.
Ernest Timmons: "A lot of people have acclimated themselves to Utah. The social life is not what they were used to in New Orleans, but they are finding other avenues to do things."
The aim is to move the people to direct housing assistance, and ultimately, off of assistance altogether. The state has never participated in a challenge quite like this.
Derek Jensen, Department of Public Safety: "The disaster itself was unprecedented. What's happening here in Utah is unprecedented, the number of individuals we brought from another state and transplanted here."
FEMA says it will not terminate any funding for lease agreements without notifying the state and the tenant at least 30 days in advance.
