by the Way . . .

What do you do when the Katrina evacuees won't move out of their free hotel accomodatins? A judge extended the deadline to February 7, and the acting FEMA director promised to keep paying after that for at least two weeks after the occupant receives rental assistence, or is denied. The NYT gave the example of South Carolina, which has 200 apartments lined up, and has contracted Ginger Crocker and her team to go from motel to motel to get occupants to sign leases on them.

"The real problem is that many of these people have never lived in a place as nice as a hotel," Ms. Crocker said. "They have cable TV and a telephone and heating and air and maid service, and we're feeding them dinner every night. (There have been complaints that there are too many green beans, but we're working on it)." A free trolley runs by each hotel throughout the day to ferry evacuees to a help center where they can do things like apply for a loan and pick up a donated winter coat.

Ms. Crockers team has obtained 131 signed leases so far, many signed under protest, and only after being told they were under no obligation to actually move in. Since under the latest ruling, FEMA will continue to pay until the signers receive rental assistance, and that doesn't start until they move, and the goal for signed leases is nearing attainment, it looks like success all around.