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Families who fled devastation in Puerto Rico attend resource fair in Cleveland

Kritza Basmeson and her daughters arrived in Cleveland last week
Kritza Basmeson and her daughters arrived in Cleveland last week

More than 80 families displaced by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico attended a resource fair in Old Brooklyn. Cuyahoga County social services officials quickly organized the event because the numbers of families needing help is growing each week. 

Many of the families who have relocated to the Cleveland area left behind devastation in Puerto Rico.  Kritzia Badmeson and her two young kids arrived a week ago. They are staying in the living room of a friend's apartment.  They left Puerto Rico because sanitary conditions are continuing to deteriorate, she said.

"The contamination is really big right now -- all the bacteria that is going right now.  There is no medication in the hospitals. I was personally in the hospital. I was sitting in a chair from 6 o'clock to 5 o'clock in the morning," Badmeson said.

 Badmeson is hoping to sign up for Medicaid at this fair and get health coverage for her family.

 

Marlene Harris-Taylor
Marlene is the director of engaged journalism at Ideastream Public Media.