FEMA
ORG
FEMA
In the largest single step in its phaseout of emergency housing assistance for victims of the hurricane, the Federal Emergency Management Agency ended the hotel payments for 12,000 families across the country, including 4,400 now living in New Orleans. FEMA, which is ending the program over the strenuous protests of Louisiana officials, says it is time for families to find a more permanent situation. Even on FEMA's housing Web site, the pickings were slim, only five two-bedroom apartments in the New Orleans area met the agency's budget of less than $800 a month.