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Puerto Ricans receive housing from FEMA

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — For weeks Eyewitness News has been reporting about the lack of housing and help for Puerto Ricans who fled to Central Florida after Hurricane Maria. It appears that people are now getting the help they desperately need.

Channel 9's Lauren Seabrook went to one of the FEMA-approved hotels in Altamonte Springs. Keishly Rivera told Seabrook Thursday that for the first time in nearly two months, she has something to smile about.

"I was very happy. I started to cry, because I didn't know that that help was real,” Rivera said.

Rivera said up until Thursday, on three separate occasions, FEMA employees wrongfully told her she didn’t qualify for temporary sheltering assistance.

FEMA admitted to Eyewitness News Wednesday thatthey mistakenly turned away some Puerto Rican evacuees, however, FEMA said they’re now getting evacuees processed.

Keishly said she's taken care of through the end of the month. She, who is a speech therapist, and her husband, who is an accountant, are now looking for jobs in Orlando.