SAN DIEGO — Nearly 2,000 people impacted by flooding are relying on San Diego County's hotel voucher program and now many are growing concerned as it expires in weeks.
"Unfortunately we're homeless at this point. I consider myself homeless. It's unfortunate," said Ashely Manzano.
Manzano and her family are staying at a hotel. She fears the worst when the voucher program ends May 11. The county says 1,999 people are relying on the hotel voucher program.
"The flood survivors are going through the most difficult stuff of their life," said Aaron Swanton, with Together San Diego.
The group formed to help those impacted by the flooding. He says the county has shared that the voucher program already ended for some families.
"About 540 people that got 7-day notices they'll need to leave the temporary lodging program," he said.
The county requires participants sign up for FEMA and submit various documents to stay in the voucher program. Last Tuesday some participants got 7-day notices that they would no longer be eligible.
"People may have already been gone from the program this morning," he said.
Families still in the program say they have a lot of uncertainty.
"When I talk to FEMA they send us to the county. The county sends us to FEMA. Everybody they play around and right now we don't know what to do," said Antonio Lopez.
He and his wife lost everything. They're hoping the hotel vouchers can be extended to buy them time.
"What are we gonna do? I don't know. We are feeling really, really bad and we don't have a place to stay," Lopez said.
The County of San Diego said in a statement to CBS 8,
"The County’s Emergency Temporary Lodging Program delivered letters to 283 participants who were no longer eligible for the program. Through phone calls and other methods of communication, the County’s team was able to connect with more than 100 households to help them through the process to remain eligible to remain in the program.
To remain eligible for the program they must show proof of flood damage to their home and residency before the flood, or share a FEMA ID with the County, so the team knows they are on the right track toward recovery and can get the long-term support they need.
The 283 participants were notified through a letter and resource packet to call the County’s community line if they have any questions or need support maintaining their eligibility. "
This story was updated on April 11 to include a statement from the County of San Diego.
WATCH RELATED: County of San Diego to end hotel vouchers for flood victims on May 11