NATIONWIDE — A federal judge has again extended FEMA's emergency housing assistance program paying for Puerto Rican evacuees to live in mainland hotels.

  • Injunction issued extending FEMA emergency assistance program
  • Transitional Shelter Assistance benefits Puerto Rican evacuees
  • Evacuees in hotels now have until Aug. 31 to find permanent housing

The preliminary injunction issued Wednesday in a Massachusetts' federal court extends the Transitional Shelter Assistance program to Aug. 31, according to federal records. It's one of several extensions to the program by court order.

As of early July, there were almost 1,000 Puerto Rican families living in hotels under the program. Of those, more than 300 were living in Florida.

"This gives me more time to be stable," Puerto Rican evacuee Jose David Santiago said Tuesday. 

With FEMA Transitional Shelter Assistance, Santiago has been able to work and save to buy a car to get a better job. 

While that assistance was supposed to end Aug. 7, Santiago says he is extremely relieved to hear it's been extended. 

"If you came here for a better opportunity then you stay and fight for it -- I came here looking for a better opportunity," Santiago said. 

Learning English and working multiple part-time jobs, Santiago says he's looking for stability because when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, he was left with nothing. 

"I can get a flight back to Puerto Rico, but what am I going to do there? Once I get there I'm going to be stuck. What am I going to do there? At least here I have opportunities to grow," Santiago said. 

While Santiago has utilized the housing assistance, he says other options aren't viable for him. He hopes to make the best of this new extension and continue to save. ​

"Well I hope that I can get an apartment so that I can get out of this," Santiago said. 

Following the extension announcement, one Orlando-area group called 'Vamos for PR Action' made a statement where their steering committee member said this about the judge's decision: 

"Most importantly, it allows families more time to find long-term solutions that will help them stabilize their lives. And it gives the judge more time to consider this important case on how the rights of Puerto Ricans have been violated by federal agencies like FEMA."

Hurricane Maria slammed into the U.S. territory almost 11 months ago. Some places on the island still do not have power.