Puerto Rican Evacuess In Need of Extended FEMA TSA And Support Services In Philadelphia

Charito Morales Puerto Rican VOCES De Barrio Advocate

Connecting our most vulnerable members in our society to much needed resources and support is what VOCES De Barrio member Charito Morales is asking for from Philadelphia officials whom she met in Puerto Rico when establishing the Philadelphia connection for vicitims of Hurricane Maria and Irma. Charito is advocating for the #HumanRights of Puerto Ricans who are American citizens living on the island of Puerto Rico until the hurricanes destroyed their home land. Puerto Ricans have entered the mainland due to the catastrophe and are entitled to supports and resources. Question is who is connecting our Puerto Rican families to the much needed support and resources?

Charito Morales with the support of community organizer Kate Goodman held a press conference 2/12/18 at the Thomas Paine Plaza to address their concerns for the neglect Puerto Ricans are facing through this crisis. A request for the city and state to become #HostCity and #HostState was issued. Charito would like for VOCES De Barrio to be one of  FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) so that they can help families in transition connect to the much needed resources. 

Under FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, host cities are eligible for 100 percent reimbursement of eligible and documented costs associated with the emergency care, temporary sheltering, and interim housing.

On 2/16/18 Charito Morales had the opportunity to talk with Puerto Rico's Governor Ricardo Rossello about her concerns for thousands of Puerto Ricans becoming homeless in the coming weeks. Gov. Ricardo stated that FEMA has extended the TSA voucher once already for Puerto Ricans and that he will ask for another extension. Charito expressed that she has made contact with our local officials and all they need is a phone call from Gov. Rossello. “My commitment is by today, in the next 24 hours I will verbally express my concern with these issues and I will have a letter drafted toward FEMA and the local government,” said Gov. Rossello.

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Grassroots advocacy is helping to address the needs and concerns for Puerto Rico!! During the #WomensMarch2018 there was talk about the neglect taking place in Puerto Rico and how more needs to done to help Puerto Ricans. The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign is also helping. 

#ViktreChallengePower  #PowerPuertoRico 

THE CAUSE

Hurricane Maria decimated Puerto Rico, and destroyed most of the island’s power grid. Months after the storm, half the island is still without power. We’re raising funds to bring power back to the millions still living in the dark.

THE SOLUTION

Power for Puerto Rico is a competition to fund the installation of sustainable, storm-proof solar power on the island. All dollars raised will go to the Foundation for Puerto Rico, a not-for-profit dedicated to smart infrastructure change for Puerto Rico.

THE CHALLENGE

From Jan 22nd to Feb 28th, you’ll be able to join a team and support the cause by donating to an athlete’s team. You’ll also earn a chance to meet an athlete, win exclusive prizes, and help the people of Puerto Rico. https://viktrechallenge.com/donate

Viktre Challenge Service includes an online platform designed to help Athlete Teams and Campaign Donors, for the purpose of initiating, conducting, learning about, and participating in fundraising campaigns (“Campaigns”). A “Athlete Team” is an individual Athlete or multiple Athletes raising funds for a cause via a Crowd Funding Campaign. A “Campaign Donor” is an individual or organization contributing funds to one or more Campaigns

Recovery Help 

If you would like to help please donate to the #PowerPuertoRico and contact Pennsylvania Latino Affairs 215.560.2640 and express your concerns for support of Puerto Ricans in transition here in Pennsylavania. 

If you know of housing resources please leave the information in the comments. Thanks for reading and your support!!