Disaster Housing Program (97.037)
Program
97.037 Disaster Housing Program
Federal Agency
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Authorization
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq., Section 408, Public Law 93-288, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 5174.
Program Number
97.037
Last Known Status
Deleted 06/03/2004 (Resended Disaster Mitigation of 2000)
Objectives
To provide assistance to households affected by a disaster to assist with their disaster-created housing needs.
Types of Assistance
Direct Payments for Specified Use; Provision of Specialized Services.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Housing assistance may be provided as: 1) Transient Accommodations Reimbursement; 2) Home Repair Assistance; 3) Rental Assistance; or 4) Mortgage and Rental Assistance. Documentation requirements: 1) Transient Accommodations Reimbursement: a) paid receipts for transient accommodations; 2) Home Repair Assistance: a) proof of occupancy and ownership; b) damage to home must be caused by the disaster; and c) total estimated repair costs must not exceed the maximum allowable repair grant; 3) Rental Assistance: a) proof of occupancy; displacement must be caused by the disaster; 4) Mortgage and Rental Assistance: a) proof of occupancy; b) documented financial hardship must be caused by the disaster; and c) formal written notice of eviction or foreclosure proceedings. Applicants, or a household member, must certify that they are a United States citizen, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien for the household to receive any form of housing assistance.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Disaster victims in designated emergency or major disaster areas who meet the following assistance specific conditions of eligibility and documentation requirements: 1) Transient Accommodations Reimbursement: a) the home has been damaged or is in a mandatory evacuation area, b) paid receipts for short-term lodging expenses; 2) Home Repair Assistance: a) proof of occupancy and ownership, b) disaster damage to the home must have made the home unlivable, c) total estimate repair costs must not exceed the maximum allowable repair grant; 3) Rental Assistance: a) proof of occupancy, b) displacement from the home must be caused by the disaster; 4) Mortgage and Rental Assistance: a) proof of occupancy; b) documented financial hardship must be caused by the disaster, c) formal written notice of eviction or foreclosure proceedings. All applicants or an adult member of the household must certify that they are a United States citizen, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien for the household to receive any form of disaster housing assistance.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Households impacted by a declared Presidential emergency or major disaster who meet the conditions of eligibility noted above.
Credentials/Documentation
FEMA Disaster Assistance Regulations, 44 CFR Part 206.101.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
The State Governor makes a request for a Presidential declaration of an emergency or a major disaster through the FEMA Regional Director. Requests for assistance must be made by the Governor in accordance with FEMA Disaster Assistance Regulations, 44 CFR 206.25, except as provided in Part 206.24(d) for emergency declarations involving primarily Federal responsibility. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Upon declaration of an emergency or major disaster, households may register an application for assistance with FEMA via a toll-free number.
Award Procedure
Funds are allocated from the President's Disaster Relief Fund for use in a designated emergency or major disaster area. Households receive assistance directly from FEMA or through a FEMA funded mechanism.
Deadlines
Generally, applicants for disaster housing assistance must register with FEMA within 60 days of the disaster declaration, except for applicants for MRA, who have 6 months to file.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 7 to 10 days.
Appeals
Appeals must be submitted in writing within 60 days of the date of the notification letter.
Renewals
Not applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Generally, term assistance (Rental Assistance, Mortgage and Rental Assistance) is provided on a periodic basis, usually 1 to 3 months of assistance at a time, with a total assistance period of no longer than 18 months.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Progress status reports are required.
Audits
Internal program audits are conducted.
Records
Expenditure records and related documents must be retained by the recipient for 3 years from date of payment.
Program Accomplishments
Provided disaster housing assistance to 310,675 eligible applicants.
Financial Information
Account Identification
70-0702-0-1-453.
Obligations
(Housing Assistance) FY 02 $779,408; FY 03 est $315,739; and FY 04 est not available.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not available.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Federal Disaster Assistance Regulations, 44 CFR 206.101; FEMA Instructions 8620.11 and 8620.12.
Related Programs
59.002, Economic Injury Disaster Loans; 59.008, Physical Disaster Loans; 97.035, Individual and Family Grants.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of addresses for FEMA's Regional Offices.
Headquarters Office
Department of Homeland Security 245 Murray Drive, SW., Washington, DC 20528. Telephone: (202) 282-8000.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable.
