New York, N.Y. - April 27, 2006 - Today, Marc H. Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League demanded that Secretary Michael Chertoff of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security rescind his order to end the voucher program that will kick out over 17,000 Katrina evacuee families from apartments where they are temporarily housed.

"Secretary Chertoff must keep his promise not to put Katrina families out on the street. Thousands of Katrina evacuee families who have counted on a full year of free housing and utilities are now being told by Secretary Chertoff and FEMA that they are no longer eligible for such help. This is not only inhumane, but also shows the lack of competence and coordination in developing a comprehensive housing plan at both the local and national levels which the National Urban League called for in October 2005," said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League

"FEMA's action in declaring more than one-third of the approximately 55,000 families ineligible for continued hotel vouchers is unacceptable. FEMA has an obligation to honor the year-long hotel vouchers they promised and to continue to work on a comprehensive plan to assist evacuees with long-term housing or permanent housing assistance. FEMA's actions do not represent a plan, and nothing less is acceptable", continued Morial.

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