But local activists say Puerto Rico is still in a federally declared state of emergency. Thousands of people still don’t have access to reliable electricity, potable water and needed medical care.
“Governor Scott must act now before families, seniors, and children thrown out into the streets,” said Maria Revelles, a member of the organizing coalition Vamos4PR and organizing director of Faith in Florida. “As a member of the faith community, allowing this injustice to happen is morally wrong and goes against our values of humanity and decency.”
Many displaced Puerto Rican families have had a hard time finding affordable housing in the Kissimmee and Orlando area. Local advocates say public housing lists are long and landlords are sometimes asking applicants to pay two to three times the amount of rent as a security deposit, which is hard to afford on Florida’s minimum wage of $8.25.
Scott and Republican lawmakers have also been criticized for raiding $185 million out of the state’s Sadowski Affordable Housing Trust Fund for other budgetary purposes.
Read more here
