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Two families displaced by Harvey say they’re not close to having their lives back to normal. Tens of thousands of others are also facing a long recovery before their biggest need — a permanent place to live — is settled.

By Giulia Afiune, Texas Tribune, November 21, 2017

Almost three months have passed since Yashica Foster watched her Houston townhome flooded by Hurricane Harvey on TV. Foster, her husband Raymond and their three kids had rushed out in time to escape the 17 feet of water that ultimately invaded the complex.

But the deluge forced the family apart: while the parents and their oldest daughter are staying in two hotel rooms at the Greenspoint Marriott — funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency — their 19-year-old son is living with a friend and their 15-year-old daughter is with family members so they can be close to their schools.

Being displaced has scrambled the family’s routine — they eat their meals at Foster’s mother’s house, seven miles from the hotel — and like thousands of others, they’re facing changing deadlines for finding new housing. They had already started looking for a place after FEMA announced it would end the hotel program on Nov. 27, then last week the agency extended the deadline to Jan. 16.

“I’m grateful, but I hate it,” Foster said.

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