On the edge: children and families displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita face a looming medical and mental health crisis

The individuals and families who were displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and who have ended up in FEMA-subsidized community housing in Louisiana are facing a second crisis, one in which untreated and undertreated chronic medical problems and incipient mental health issues will overwhelm patients and providers. Among the displaced, children are found to be particularly vulnerable.
The purpose of the study was to gather information that could inform local, state, and federal policymakers about the health and social service needs of displaced populations living in transitional community-based settings, such as trailer parks and hotels.