TAMPA, Fla. -- With the latest FEMA extension set to expire in just a few days the race is on for Puerto Rican families to find permanent housing and jobs. And one Bay area organization is trying to find more opportunities for them in the job search.
- Hurricane Maria evacuees attend Bay area job fair
- Organization to help Puerto Ricans find jobs
- FEMA deadline ends July 23
Catholic Charities held a job fair with various recruiters filling positions in fields like hospitality and maintenance. The organization stepped in with resources to help the families finally get settled in the Bay area.
After seven months in Tampa, Melvin Andino Vasquez is anxious to get back to work. He has been living in a hotel with his mom and sister since they arrived from Puerto Rico in January.
"I just miss not being bored at home. It's better to be at work than to sit at home doing nothing," Vasquez said.
Back on the island he was a student while also working in maintenance. Now he's stuck in the hotel room for days on end because he can't find a job.
"Like for us young people, because they see that we're so young they think we don't have experience and they say no," he explained.
After no success in finding a job on his own, Vasquez decided to try a different approach and attend the job fair.
"It's fast, you don't have to go from place to place looking for work. You just come here to talk to the employers," he said.
Vasquez said he is grateful for the help because he wants to make life easier for his mom.
"This way I can help her and she won't have all the burden on her," he said.
The FEMA deadline ends July 23.