FEB 16, 2016

Following The Water

WRITTEN BY: Brenda Kelley Kim

California is heading into it's fifth year of devastating drought. Many communities who depend on well water have seen their supply dry up. In Tulare County over 1800 homes had wells that had gone dry. Thus was born the Drought Housing Relocation Assistance Program to get families without water moved to communities that have water.

The program is based on income and doesn't preclude those who own homes from receiving assistance to pay rent on another home. Residents realize the water shortage is critical, but many are hesitant to leave homes where they have lived for most of their lives. Some interim solutions to relocating include providing bottled water and portable water tanks that residents can hook up to their homes. Check out the video to see how this small community is coping with the devastating drought