Press

FEMA Reimbursements – Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) spearheaded a coalition of 36 other California delegates urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fully reimburse local governments for the costs of providing shelter to people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. This request comes in response to FEMA’s Oct. 16 announcement to the California Office of Emergency Services, which retroactively limited the amount of reimbursement local governments will receive for providing emergency non-congregant sheltering. The letter, addressed to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, said there was a critical need for FEMA to reimburse local governments, or else they would experience financial strain. The lawmakers who signed the letter argued that withholding reimbursements under California’s COVID-19 Major Disaster Declaration could collectively cost cities and counties over $300 million.