Grassley asking FEMA to hold back on charging flood victims rent

By James Q. Lynch

The Gazette

Sen. Chuck Grassley is asking FEMA to delay rental charges to June 2008 flood victims living in mobile homes the agency provides.

FEMA announced it will continue to provide the temporary housing, “which is very helpful especially for families who benefit by staying put with school kids until the end of semester,” Grassley said during a conference call with Iowa reporters this morning.

“Now there's a wrinkle,” the Iowa Republican said. FEMA will charge fair market value for the mobile homes, but, according to Grassley, fair market rates have gone up substantially compared to pre-flood rates.

“Families need more time to adjust to higher rates” which are scheduled to begin Dec. 1, Grassley said.

“The end of November is a short timeframe for them to come up with money for new, large expenditures … to cough up money or be forced out of their housing during the holiday season,” he said.

“I think right now during Thanksgiving and the holidays is a very bad time to start charging rent,” Grassley said.

He wants rent – if it is going to be charged – the based upon ability to pay. Also, Grassley recommended rent be delayed until after Christmas and is asking FEMA to consider phasing in rental charges.