FEMA Distributes Almost $625 Million In Expedited Housing Assistance In First Two Days
Release Date: September 26, 2005
Release Number: HQ-05-306
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began processing payments of expedited housing assistance to hundreds of thousands of victims of Hurricane Katrina on Saturday, September 24, and in the first weekend, distributed almost $625 million.
The program, announced this past Friday by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson, provided for a series of measures to accelerate the delivery of Federal assistance and provide transitional housing for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
In the first weekend of distributing resources to help displaced individuals and families move from temporary shelters to more stable, safe and sufficient housing, FEMA approved over 265,000 applications. The agency processed almost 160,000 through electronic fund transfers, and over 105,000 payments by checks.
“Plans were to begin processing the assistance early in the week, and I’m delighted to see that FEMA is ahead of schedule in dispensing this expedited transitional housing assistance and getting funds in the hands of those in need,” said Acting Under Secretary of Homeland Security and Director of FEMA R. David Paulison.
In total, as of September 26, 2005, FEMA has released over $2.2 billion to individuals and households impacted by Hurricane Katrina under its Individual and Households Program (IHP) to over 680,000 households.
Through FEMA’s IHP, homeowners and renters displaced by Hurricane Katrina and who are eligible for housing assistance through the expedited assistance program will receive an initial three month rental assistance payment in the form of check or electronic fund transfer in the amount of $2,358. This initial payment is calculated based on the average fair market rent rate for a two-bedroom unit nationwide.
Housing assistance is being expedited to all evacuees unable to meet immediate housing needs with combined efforts from FEMA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Evacuees from the hardest-hit portions of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana generally fall into four distinct types of households: previous homeowners, renters, individuals who lived in public housing, and those who were homeless prior to the hurricane.
FEMA continues to take applications for assistance following the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast, and has registered more than 1.4 million households from Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. In addition, following major disaster declarations this past weekend in Louisiana and Texas, FEMA registered an additional 36,000 households in the past twenty-four hours who registered for assistance because of Hurricane Rita
Evacuees must register through FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA, (1-800-462-7585 TTY), or applying online at www.fema.gov for Federal disaster assistance. It is important that individuals and households promptly update their FEMA registration information with any change of address or new telephone numbers so they may receive assistance in a timely and direct manner.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages the federal response and recovery efforts following an incident of national significance. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities to reduce the risk of loss in future disasters, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Monday, 26-Sep-2005 13:45:57