Breitbart News reported Monday (Jan. 25) that Biden signed an executive order last Thursday (Jan. 21) that could allow U.S. taxpayers to fund 100 percent of “homeless housing in hotels” in cities such as San Francisco through the end of September this year.
The executive order aims to increase reimbursements and other assistance to states in response to the Wuhan virus pandemic. According to Biden’s executive order, FEMA should “provide support to states (including territories and the District of Columbia), local governments, and tribal governments that may request Category B assistance under the Public Assistance Program Category B to ensure the safe opening and operation of facilities, including eligible schools, child care facilities, health care facilities, and non-group shelters. health care facilities, non-group shelters, domestic violence shelters, public transportation systems, and other eligible facilities.”
The executive order adds, “FEMA will provide the assistance in this section at 100 percent of the federal cost rate through September 30, 2021.”
While the specifics have not been determined, the move represents a shift away from the Trump administration’s policy, which has been to pay up to 75 percent of the costs in this area. Biden’s executive order could result in U.S. taxpayers covering the cost of hotels for homeless people in San Francisco throughout the Wuhan virus outbreak. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the city is sheltering about 2,200 homeless people in more than 24 hotels.
San Francisco Mayor Ben Rosenfield said it’s unclear whether the executive order is retroactive. If it is retroactive, San Francisco may still be eligible for millions of dollars.
Mayor Rosenfield said, “What I can say for sure is that from now until the end of September, this policy applies to facilities that are eligible to apply.” The San Francisco Chronicle added, “Rosenfeld said about 85 percent of hotels are eligible for reimbursement, although it was unclear Friday whether the Biden Administration changed the definition of eligibility.” The previous administration did not specify when federal funding would stop.
As Breitbart News reported last August, the California Department of Housing and Community Development, through the Wuhan Virus Relief Fund (CRF), used tens of millions of dollars in federal funds to house homeless people in hotel rooms during the state’s Wuhan virus outbreak.
The Homekey program was announced at the Time, “Administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), the $600 million in grant funds will be invested in cities, counties, various housing authorities, and federally recognized tribal governments for the acquisition and rehabilitation of housing, including hotels, motels, vacant apartment buildings, and other buildings, and may also be used to convert buildings into temporary or permanent housing.” The plan also states that “$550 million comes from California’s direct allocation to the federal Wuhan Virus Assistance Relief Fund.”
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