[StBernard] FEMA - MISINFORMATION

[Westley Annis]

I was told by a FEMA rep in front of my mothers home on Palmisano that they
would pay rental assistance and if it was above the allotted amount of
$2358, I needed to submit receipts to get additional assistance.  I was told
that my assistance may run out before the 18 months if I requested
additional funds but I would get it.  I confirmed it with a phone call
before signing a lease.  I submitted the receipts and faxed them and have
gotten no response.  
 
Angie  
 
-----Original Message-----

I wondered if anyone else had this problem with FEMA:
We had gone to several FEMA offices, Poplarville, MS and Chalmette.  In
September we had an opportunity to rent a house (small, small house, but a
house) not in a very good neighborhood but it was a roof.  We had to sign a
1 year lease.  I took a copy of the unsigned lease to the FEMA office.
Explained to them that we had lost our jobs in STB and that without rental
assiatance we would not be able to meet the 1200.00 rent.  We were told that
once the funds  (2000 + 2358) were  exhausted, even thought it went over the
amount (since it was supposed to be for 3 months) that all we had to do was
fax over this for (which they provided to us) along with the lease EACH
month and since we had been approved for the rental assistance it would be
continued to us.  We signed the lease (I also want to note that they made
many, many promises via telephone and in person at both of the above
locations) regarding assisting us in keeping our new car that we purchased 1
month before the storm (when we could very well afford it).  I of course,
thought this was crazy but was assured that they would provide some sort of
assistance (also assistance for the uninsured car that was left behind).  I
was not worried about that, we would certainly be able to find new jobs and
take care of that ourself so that idea was dropped.  Anyway, I have been
calling and calling about the rental assistance.  Of course I am still
getting the runaround.  The paperwork was faxed Nov. 7 AND brought to the
Chalmette site - just in case.  I am still getting the runaround.  Lovely
stories on how they will help to my face (and my husbands - we have gone and
called on separate occasions).  Now the last few phone calls I have made
this week I am getting different stories on what they told me.  Now this
woman is reading notes on the computer that on 11/3 they told me, to my face
that they did not guarantee any assistance when I went in - BS!  She pretty
much called me a liar without saying those words.  I was so hysterical -
they are the BOLD FACE LIARS - I had to hang up before I started getting
crazy.  What is up with our Federal government???  I have never asked for or
had the overnment give me one red cent, even when my husband was laid off
several years ago and we almost lost everything then.  We managed it on OUR
OWN!  Now this is what we get?  Slapped in the face by a bunch of liars that
don't know what the other is doing?  I mean really, they sit at the laptops
and type while they are talking to you, entering opposite information from
what they are telling you!  I say we DEMAND that we read whatever is
submitted to our files.  There needs to be some sort of prosecution that
these people should face when altering our informati on, submitted to OUR
government in OUR personal files!  Where does it stop?

Cathi