FEMA officials need to have more cultural competence and understand that the lack of titles in Puerto Rico is a systemic issue on the island tied to historical, political, and economic factors. After being denied assistance, many households either withdrew their application or were administratively withdrawn. Some families appealed their denial using the Declarative Statements assembled by the DHRC of the NLIHC, instead of the FEMA Affidavit, which required a lawyer’s signature. One of FEMA’s main limitations in this collaboration with the NLIHC is that they did not reach out to households that were denied to follow-up with them to pursue appeals using the new Declarative Statement.

As more people seek assistance in the future, FEMA needs to pay attention to how their policies impact the most vulnerable—low-income individuals, women, older adults, and others with reduced functional capacities. The federal government needs to reform the disaster housing recovery framework to be more equitable. Often, emergency managers and planners tend to implement a one-size-fits-all model throughout the federal and state disaster recovery process. This model tends to favor white and middle-class communities. Advocates have argued that in Puerto Rico, there is a unique opportunity to address equity. Federal funding is not reaching the people who need it the most. This occurs in part because potential beneficiaries are often unaware of what they can do to receive aid effectively.

Although well intentioned, local and federal governments often fail to provide materials and information in formats that are accessible to the most vulnerable. State and local governments must be educated in cultural competency that addresses issues such as racism and classism.

This requires a change of thinking toward unbureaucratic ways of aiding, where the survivor is put at the center of how assistance is given. In addition, the federal government needs to be transparent with its decision making. Another common complaint is that there is no transparency in the denial codes (e.g., duplicate application, ownership not verified, missed inspection, etc.) and the decisions being made by FEMA (Adams, 2018). Accountability and due process should be at the center of decision making. This cultural competency education must be integrated into the FEMA application process and in Disaster Recovery Centers.

Furthermore, the federal government should provide funding for organizations like Ayuda Legal Huracán María, Acceso de Fondo a la Justicia, and Servicios Legales de Puerto Rico to improve Access to critical information. These legal aid organizations are very well connected to grassroots groups, allowing them to communicate with the most vulnerable residents in ways that FEMA cannot reach. These entities are already trusted in the community to offer legal services and mediate between them and FEMA. FEMA staff and others involved in emergency management should seek ways to decentralize communications and build formal relationships with networks of community-based organizations to increase their reach and credibility. By implementing these changes, the number of survivors who do not receive FEMA assistance can be reduced.

With climate change, more wildfires in California and hurricanes in Texas are expected. As more people seek assistance in the future, FEMA needs to pay attention to its policies and ensure an equitable disaster housing response.

Hurricane María completely destroyed a total of some 300,000 homes. After the disaster, the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared about 60% of all applications for aid received by Individuals and Households Program (IHP) to be ineligible. Individuals and households were denied because of their inability to prove homeownership, no contact for inspection, and duplicate application, among other beaurocratic reasons.

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