Sandy refugees displaced after confusion over FEMA housing

Dozens of New Jerseyans displaced by Superstorm Sandy briefly had no place to stay this weekend due to confusion over the status of a FEMA housing program.

An agency spokesman told WNBC-TV in New York that a two-week extension to the Transitional Shelter Assistance program was granted Friday, shortly before it was to expire.

Hundreds of displaced families have been housed in motels under the program, and most got word of the extension. But roughly 100 people checked out of their rooms early Saturday, unaware that they didn’t have to leave.

Upon learning of the confusion, the state Department of Community Affairs and FEMA partnered to find rooms for those residents.

DCA Commissioner Richard Constable told WNBC that all of the affected residents had new housing by Saturday night.