FEMA Trailers Will Remain in Biloxi

The Biloxi city council has voted unanimously to allow FEMA trailers to remain in the city for another six months. MPB’s Phoebe Judge reports.

83 year old Charles Rogers is one of the 41 residents who are still living in FEMA trailers in Biloxi. The decision made yesterday by the Biloxi City Council means that Rogers will have another six months to try and finish modifications to his new home so that he can move in. Rogers says he has no desire to spend the rest of his life in a FEMA travel trailer, but says he just needs some more time,

“It’s kind of hard when you are right handed, and you are standing on one leg, and you have your crutch in your right hand and you are trying to do everything left handed, saw and try and measure things.”

Those FEMA trailers would have been removed in August if the Council had not voted to extend the deadline. Housing advocacy groups say the government has to realize that people recover at different paces. Charmel Gaulden is with the Gulf Coast Fair Housing Center,

“Not everyone had the same case management, not everyone started from the same resources, so it is difficult for everyone to be at the same state of recovery.”

Biloxi Councilmen Bill Stallworth, says the extension is not an excuse for people to sit idle in their recovery efforts,

“We want to encourage people to move forward to get their building permits. Get their plans in place and start coming up with a long term housing solution plan, but allow them adequate time to continue this process.”

The Council’s decision comes on the heels of the Obama administration's decision last week to allow greater numbers of individuals still living in FEMA temporary housing the opportunity to purchase those units at severely discounted rates, as well as stalling all eviction plans for those units.