By Ariadna Godreau Aubert | Founder and Director
While the official end date of the peak hurricane season is November 30, going through September and October without significant storm or hurricane warnings brings relief to many on the Island. As we seek space in this pause to assess and demand recovery progress, we know people remain unsafe.
Recent access to information requests directed to the local government shows that only 5,592 families (of 28,000+ applicants) have been able to repair or rebuild their homes with long-term recovery funds fully. This means that the unmet needs remain, aggravated by the passage of time but also by inflation and heightened economic disparity. Press coverage, using part of Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico's work and research and basis, and testimonies of those who suffer the consequences of unfair recovery reveal serious mismanagement of public funds and the risk of shoddy work for applicants and future generations. Moreover, in recent days, hurricane Otis went from being a tropical storm to a Category 5 monster, leaving little doubt about the devastating consequences of climate change and the urgency to remain alert. At all times.
We have a lot of work to do with the people we accompany to courts and administrative forums with the organizations and people we educate about recovery and housing issues. This is not a break. This is a space for action. We need to use this space wisely.
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