U.S.

FEMA's Shelter Program For Displaced Puerto Ricans Is About To End

The program was reportedly housing over 1,000 families as of August 1.

FEMA's Shelter Program For Displaced Puerto Ricans Is About To End
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SMS

Hundreds of Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria now living on the mainland, will need to find new housing in about two weeks.

A federal judge ruled to end FEMA's Transitional Sheltering Assistance, or TSA program, on Sept. 13. The program allowed people to stay in hotels and motels.

Lawsuits by advocacy group Latino Justice helped extend the program multiple times, but Thursday's decision marks the end of the latest extension.

And a FEMA spokesperson told NBC News "there will be no further extensions."

As of Aug. 1, Reuters said more than 1,000 families were receiving aid under the program. 

Officials in Puerto Rico recently accepted the findings of an independent investigation which revealed close to 3,000 people died from Hurricane Maria, a significant increase from the previous estimate of 64.