FEMA Announces Housing Assistance Helpline for Illinois Applicants 

Release Date: August 20, 2008
Release Number: 1771-057

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency has set-up a housing assistance helpline to assist Illinois applicants who are having difficulty finding a place to live following the June 1 to July 22 severe storms and flooding.

Illinois applicants can call the Housing Assistance Helpline at 1-866-516-0915 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CDT to speak with a FEMA Representative about their housing needs. Assistance in locating temporary housing is also available online at asd.fema.gov/inter/hportal/home.htm/

Applicants calling the Housing Assistance Helpline can receive information such as locations of available housing in their area, specifics about the housing units and contact information. Since each applicant’s situation is unique, FEMA handles your situation on a case-by-case basis to try to create the best possible scenario during your recovery.

"If an applicant is unable to find temporary housing we will do our best to locate it for them." said Libby Turner, FEMA federal coordinating officer. "We have people in the state trying to locate safe, sanitary and functional homes for applicants to live in and they are finding additional housing resources every day."

FEMA wants to remind Illinois residents that the deadline to register for disaster assistance is Monday, August 25. To apply call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Those with hearing or speech impairments with TTY equipment should call 1-800-462-7585. Both lines are available daily, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. CDT. You can also register online at www.fema.gov. After the August 25 deadline the Housing Assistance Helpline will still be available to qualified applicants.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Thursday, 21-Aug-2008 08:19:13