KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana |The End of "Home Sweet Hotel"

The End of "Home Sweet Hotel"

      For two months, Milton Williams and his family have called the Holiday Inn Express near the Shreveport airport home. They lost their real home to Hurricane Hatrina. Tuesday, FEMA told them, and others living in hotels across the country, their time at the hotels has an expiration date. Williams says he's at a loss
     "I guess I 'll have to stay with relatives all over or i'll have to split my family up," says Williams. E vacuees living in louisiana will have until January first to find other arrangements, but evacuees in other parts of the country won't be as lucky. They have until December first
      "I think it's bizarre, quite honestly," says Simone Hennessee. She heads up Providence House, a group that helps needy families get back on their feet. She says any way you slice it, both deadlines could cause people to fall through the cracks--particularly during the holiday season. "J ust under normal circumstances without the hurricanes or disasters it's near impossible to find any kind of affordable housing, period," she says. About 53 thousand evacuee families nationwide live in hotels. More than 9 thousand of those are in Louisiana. Williams says for his family, all six of them, the stress is mounting as the clock starts winding down
    "I t wouldn't be so bad if I could find somewhere comfortable where I could live with my kids," says Williams. Now, they've got less than 6 weeks to do it. Experts have some advice for all in the William's situation.
      "G et out now and find your apartment because if there is anything avalible you better get it--you need to get it now," says Hennessee.