Congressional delgation asking FEMA not to charge rent on mobile homes

Iowa's congressional delegation has joined the state in asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) not to begin charging rent for state residents living in the agency's mobile homes.

“Uprooting families at this time could create significant and unnecessary problems,” the lawmakers wrote to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate in a letter released Monday. “In addition, there continues to be a lack of affordable housing options in the Cedar Rapids area in particular. As we enter the traditionally harsh winter months in Iowa, transitioning to new homes also will be difficult.”

The members of Congress asked Fugate to waive the requirement that FEMA begin charging rent to Iowans who remain in temporary housing more than 18 months after the June 2008 floods. Responding to an earlier request by the Iowa delegation, FEMA announced two weeks ago the mobile homes would remain in the state past the Nov. 27 deadline, but tenants would be charged rent starting in December.

Last week, officials at the Rebuild Iowa Office asked FEMA to waive the rent.

About 120 families remain in the mobile homes statewide.

Monday's letter is signed by U.S. Senators Tom Harkin, a Democrat, and Republican Chuck Grassley as well as Second District Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-Mount Vernon), and fellow Congressmen Tom Latham, Leonard Boswell, Steve King, and Bruce Braley.