The City of Arlington continues to provide transitional housing assistance for individuals displaced by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina evacuees who previously received HUD public housing assistance are eligible to receive emergency housing vouchers for three months with the possibility for extensions up to 18 months. Eligible recipients must be registered with FEMA. To register, go to www.fema.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA.

Hurricane Katrina evacuees who received HUD public housing assistance and registered with FEMA must contact the Arlington Housing Authority at 817-275-3351 to schedule an appointment. The Arlington Housing Authority is located at 501 W. Sanford St. – Suite 20. The hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Additionally, FEMA is providing accelerated payments to support transitional housing assistance for qualified homeowners and renters displaced by Hurricane Katrina. These payments are for rental assistance payments for three months of transitional housing totaling $2,334 per household or $778 per month. The payments may be applied to housing costs at a location identified by the recipient. Additional information is available at www.fema.gov.

To date, more than 1,600 people displaced by Hurricane Katrina have registered for HUD housing assistance, according to the City of Arlington Neighborhood Services Department. Interim shelter certificates have been issued to 850 families for apartments. Rent payments are being paid by the City of Arlington and will be reimbursed by FEMA. Approximately 290 households have received long-term housing vouchers, which are being processed by the Arlington Housing Authority and funded by HUD. To date, 175 individuals have received one-way air fares to the destination of their choice. The Arlington Independent School District has enrolled more than 780 students. Countless numbers of Arlington residents have opened their homes to family and friends displaced by both hurricanes, while community and faith-based organizations and volunteers continue to provide emergency shelter, clothing and meals.