The Puerto Ricans who lost homes due to Hurricane Maria have been seeking help from the federal government. And yet they have faced incredible challenges obtaining assistance because of the required documentation to prove they own the homes that they’ve lived in for years. According to NBC News, this is indicative of a long-standing issue on the island: illegal construction of homes, mainly in impoverished areas.
As of May 1, “FEMA has received 1,118,862 million registrations for disaster assistance,” said FEMA spokesperson Ron Roth in a statement to NBC News. ”The number of approved registrations for FEMA grants totals 452,290. The number of registrations deemed ineligible is 335,748.”
Sadly, even the Puerto Rican government doesn’t have a solid idea of how many homes have been built without documentation and permits, but the figure seems to be as high as 55 percent. People often buy or inherit land and then build with whatever money and material they have access to. This has been a practice which has taken place over the course of generations as property and land is passed down through families. It hasn’t posed a problem, except when it comes to deeds and proving payments on property tax—all things that are necessary for FEMA aid.
[Previous] estimates from the Puerto Rico Builders Association, an industry group, suggest that about 55 percent of the island’s infrastructure — more than half — was informally built, including 700,000 houses and commercial buildings. [...]
[Michelle Sugden-Castillo, a housing non-profit consultant] said issues over clear title transfers — paperwork that clearly shows that a piece of property went from one homeowner to another, even if it's just a relative — can result in unclear evidence that can hurt people’s chances of receiving FEMA aid.
This presents a major dilemma. FEMA employees are doing their job as required in asking for this paperwork, but these requirements are in opposition to the cultural practices in Puerto Rico. This is what happens when an island is a colony, with its own way of living and doing things, but is also expected to follow colonial rule. And we can argue about what makes sense and why—but the fact remains that Puerto Ricans have been functioning this way for a long time and cannot be expected to just change course, especially in the aftermath of a crisis.
Culturally appropriate responses to these practices should be implemented. It does seem that FEMA has an alternative option, though its unclear how much this serves to benefit those who need help. It may even make it easier for them to be denied aid.
As NBC News notes:
If none of the documents proving clear home ownership exist, in some cases FEMA may accept a signed letter that describes how long the applicant has lived at the disaster-damaged home and an explanation as to why the proper documents are unavailable.
Other forms of aid are available if this application process fails, such as low-interest disaster loans and grants under the Other Needs Assistance program (ONA). Applicants also have a chance to appeal any FEMA decision.
These changes have helped people get aid that they may have not received otherwise. But Puerto Ricans who live in communities that were informally built and without permits on government or privately owned lands continue to have a hard time navigating FEMA’s hurdles.
In the meantime, Puerto Ricans continue to navigate the myriad of hurdles in their way to recovering from Hurricane Maria. And with the next hurricane season beginning on June, FEMA needs to figure something out quickly and efficiently. It’s a huge ask for a large, bureaucratic government agency to do something different and more humane. But Puerto Ricans cannot wait. And, at this point, FEMA, the U.S. government, and the Puerto Rican government have long since passed the time for delays and excuses.