Thousands of Katrina Refugees face eviction

[questioner]

The USATODAY has a good article today about the Katrina Refugees who have been living rent free in hundreds of apartments and motels across the country, now facing eviction as Federal and State money drys up. While this is sad, it brings up a good question- how long should the government support these people and how can they force them to get back to work and be self supporting.

 

[ducklite]

With some people, the only way to get them working is to force them to. Many states now have workfare, to get that check you have to work for it, and the jobs are not glamouros. They have found that a large number of people previously on welfare have managed to find emplyment on their own in the private sector when faced with cleaning toilets at the bus station as an alternative.

Of course there will always be exceptions, but IMHO 80% or more of the people on welfare need subsidized daycare, health benefits, and rent assistance, and with that limited suport can enter the workplace and remain there.

Bottom line, you'll see a lot of them managing to find employment once they are faced with the alternative.

Anne

 

[seashoreCM]

December 12. Again Katrina evacuees are facing eviction from hotels.

Federal judge in district covering New Orleans orders FEMA to extend payments through February 7.

There's a cheaper solution to housing evacuees in hotels. FEMA should co-sign apartment rental agreements. Not Section 8 where the government can reduce the subsidy if the tenant misrepresents things or starts earning money. Instead any subsidy would increase if the tenant failed to pay his share; the co-signer is responsible for everything the "main" signer fails to fulfill.

Any dispute between landlord, tenant, and co-signer would be resolvable in the courts; FEMA would waive sovereign immunity.

FEMA as co-signer would have the right to move the tenant(s) at any time but could not terminate the co-signed agreement until the apartment is vacated.

With these rules there would be no shortage of apartments.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm