SAN FERNANDO VALLEY : FEMA Extends Post-Quake Rental Aid for 6 Months

Responding to protests from two San Fernando Valley congressmen, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to extend rental assistance for six months to homeowners still awaiting completion of earthquake repairs.

The assistance program will be extended from July 17 until January 17, 1996, officials said.

“It became obvious a few months ago that if the deadline were enforced, people would be in bad shape while they were waiting for their homes and condos to be repaired,” Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson, (D-Woodland Hills) said Monday.

Also lobbying FEMA for an extension of the assistance program was Rep. Howard L. Berman, (D-Panorama City).

Cory LaBianca, a FEMA spokesman in Pasadena, said the majority of the 1,700 families eligible for rental aid are condominium owners. Some of them complained that they were wrongly told by FEMA officials their homes were not damaged badly enough to be eligible for rental aid. Nearly 200 such condominium owners described their plight to Beilenson at a meeting in Encino in March.

LaBianca said the maximum rental subsidy is about $1,150 per month.

Meanwhile, a second subsidy program providing financial assistance to about 11,000 low-income renters across Los Angeles may end soon, local housing officials said.

Wendy Greuel, a Department of Housing and Urban Development field operations officer in Los Angeles, said no final decision has been made on the program.