NCIL Encourages Accessibility and Safety in FEMA Housing

April 9, 2007

The Honorable Christopher J. Dodd
Chairman
Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
534 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Sent via facsimile: (202) 224-5137

Dear Chairman Dodd:

I am writing on behalf of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) about the GulfCoast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act of 2007, H.R. 1227. While we applaud and support this effort to provide housing to Gulf Coast residents who need housing, we remain concerned about the accessibility and indoor air quality of the trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The NCIL is the oldest cross-disability, national grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. NCIL's membership includes centers for independent living, statewide independent living councils, people with disabilities, and other disability rights organizations. As a membership organization, NCIL advances independent living and the rights of people with disabilities through consumer-driven advocacy. NCIL envisions a world in which people with disabilities are valued equally and participate fully.

Enacting H.R. 1227 would go a long way toward helping people who were displaced by hurricanes of 2005. While we are pleased with this assistance, we remain very concerned about the health of the children and adults living in these temporary dwellings. As reported in “Dying for a Home,” The Nation on February 15, many of these trailers, many of which were manufactured quickly -- without the proper production procedures – and contain high levels of formaldehyde and other toxic vapors.

We urge you to ensure that disaster relief housing meet current Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational and Safety Health Administration standards, by adding the following recommendations to the Committee Report to accompany H.R. 1227:

• As the Gulf Coast hurricanes proved, FEMA housing remains inaccessible to many people with disabilities and even to people who sustained injuries as a result of the hurricanes. More needs to be done to ensure that people with disabilities, including persons with invisible disabilities, such as vision and hearing loss, and multiple chemical sensitivity, secure accessible housing in the wake of losing their home. The Committee strongly recommends that no FEMA housing units should contain formaldehyde and other toxic vapors. Additionally, all FEMA housing units must meet Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.

Thank you for your consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact Deb Cotter, of our staff at deb@ncil.org or (202) 207-0334 if you would like additional information.

Sincerely,                                                                                  

Kelly Buckland                                                           John A. Lancaster
President                                                                     Executive Director