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Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative William Jefferson (D-LA) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is awarding Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) over $1.9 million in disaster recovery grants. The money will be used to reimburse the University for housing students, faculty and essential staff at the Marriott Hotel since January. FEMA also provided trailers to house university class and residential facilities until repairs are complete on their Pontchartrain Park campus.
“My office has worked closely with FEMA and SUNO to make sure that the university’s recovery needs were met in a timely manner and I am pleased to announce the award today,” Jefferson said. “As a university serving non-traditional, commuter students, SUNO has never provided housing but in order to survive, it must now assist students in providing room and board for students, faculty and staff. We must continue the tradition of providing educational access to those non-traditional students at this very important historically black institution and this money makes a huge impact on our community’s ability provide that access.”
The grant will pay rent for up to 400 rooms at $179.00 per night, for students and essential teaching and staff personnel at the New Orleans Marriott. FEMA residential trailers will be ready to occupy in April. SUNO has a temporary campus trailer facility that will serve about 2,000 students. |
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