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FEMA Barred from Terminating Rental Assistance for Hurricane Evacuees

Monday, June 25

  • Organization: Shriver Center

On June 13, 2007, a federal court in New Orleans, Louisiana, issued a preliminary injunction in Ridgely v. FEMA, prohibiting FEMA from 1) terminating rental assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina and Rita without giving them adequate notice of the reason for the proposed termination and the opportunity for a meaningful pre-termination hearing; 2) seeking recovery of alleged overpayments without giving individuals an adequate written notice and opportunity for a meaningful hearing; and 3) refusing to pay rental assistance to otherwise eligible evacuees whom FEMA believes were previously overpaid without giving them an adequate written notice and opportunity for a meaningful pre-termination hearing. The court also allowed the case to proceed as a class action. Plaintiffs are represented by the National Center for Law and Economic Justice.