FEMA Referring Texans to HUD for Disaster Housing Program
Rental assistance program for Ike evacuees begins November 1
Release Date: October 29, 2008
Release Number: 1791-201
» More Information on Texas Hurricane Ike
AUSTIN, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is only days away from launching a new temporary housing assistance program to help Texans displaced by Hurricane Ike. In anticipation of the program's November 1 start date, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has given HUD the names of more than 6,500 Texans who may qualify for direct rental assistance until March 2010.
The Texans have been identified by FEMA as eligible for HUD's Disaster Housing Assistance Program-Ike (DHAP-Ike). The program will provide housing assistance and case management for homeowners and renters whose homes suffered significant damage as a result of the hurricane. Other Texans who believe their homes will be uninhabitable during the 17-month program should register with FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) by Nov. 12, 2008.
Only those Texans who meet FEMA's eligibility requirements for housing assistance under FEMA's Individuals and Households Program will be referred to HUD. To be eligible for assistance, an individual or a pre-disaster member of the household must be a U.S. citizen, a non-citizen national or a qualified alien. A person who is not a qualified alien, but whose child is a citizen, non-citizen national or a qualified alien, may apply for assistance on behalf of the child. Additionally, the applicant must have incurred uninsured disaster-related damage to his or her primary residence in the federally declared disaster area. Eligible applicants who are expected to be unable to return to their homes for a prolonged period because of significant damage to their homes will be referred to HUD.
Applicants who already received letters from FEMA confirming their eligibility should call HUD's Referral Call Center (RCC) toll-free at 1-866-373-9509 to discuss their housing needs. The RCC representative will direct the applicant to the appropriate Public Housing Authority (PHA).
The PHA will contact the applicant and assign a caseworker to help the applicant find housing if necessary. The housing includes private-market rentals, not public housing. Once housing has been identified, the PHA will contact the landlord to offer participation in the program. If an agreement is reached, the PHA will begin providing direct rental assistance to the landlord and start case management for the applicant.
Once all program requirements are met, the PHA will pay landlords either the Fair Market Rent (FMR) or the payment standard set by the local PHA, not to exceed the actual rent. For the first six months, the rent will be paid in full. Beginning May 1, 2009, tenants will pay $50 toward the rent to accelerate their path to self-sufficiency. Each month thereafter, tenants' portion of the rent will increase by $50 until tenants are paying the full rent.
Starting in August 2009, tenants whose rent burden does not exceed 30 percent of post-disaster gross income (taking into account existing mortgages for personal residences that remain uninhabitable) will no longer be eligible for DHAP-Ike. Tenants whose rent burden and mortgage exceed 30 percent of post-disaster income will continue to receive assistance. The program ends March 13, 2010.
Eligible applicants can live in a community outside of the disaster area and DHAP-Ike will subsidize their rent anywhere in the United States. If housing resources become available a year from now, applicants can move back to the area if suitable housing is available.
Eligible applicants can actively seek and find housing prior to contact from the PHA. If the applicant finds a rental unit that currently is not listed, the PHA may encourage the landlord to register to participate in DHAP-Ike. Registering is a simple process that offers the landlord incentives to participate. Landlords can go to the HUD Web site at www.hud.gov/offices/pih/publications/ike.cfm for a sample rental agreement. For rental rates, landlords can contact their local PHA.
DHAP-Ike will be implemented as follows:
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Texans who were displaced by Hurricane Ike and believe they are eligible for assistance must register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or online at www.FEMA.gov.
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FEMA will use its criteria to determine individuals and families eligible for DHAP-Ike.
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FEMA will send an approval letter to eligible applicants.
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Eligible applicants will also receive a telephone call and letter from HUD explaining that their rental assistance will continue as a direct payment to the landlord and that the PHA will begin to manage the case. Local public housing agencies, which are administering the program, will also contact eligible Texans to ensure their housing needs are being met.
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Once all program requirements are met, PHAs will begin making rental payments to landlords for persons determined eligible by FEMA.
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FEMA began referring eligible individuals and families to HUD on October 15.
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After receiving an eligibility letter from FEMA, applicants can call the HUD Referral Call Center toll-free at 1-866-373-9509 to discuss their current housing needs.
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For eligible individuals and families already in rental units, the assigned PHA will contact landlords to ensure the necessary documents are in place so that rental payments can be made through DHAP-Ike.
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Applicants who remain in shelters or who are residing with friends or family will receive assistance from PHAs to locate housing.
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DHAP-Ike provides a hardship waiver of the $50 Incremental Rent Transition (IRT) for tenants who prove they cannot afford the rent increment. The details of the hardship provision will be explained in standard operating procedures that will be published shortly.
- Tenant obligations to continue eligibility in DHAP-Ike include the following:
- Tenants must abide by the terms of the lease and maintain the unit in good condition;
- Tenants must participate in case management services;
- When IRT begins, tenants must agree to pay their portion of rent on time and in full;
- Tenants must accurately and honestly certify the receipt of benefits from either U.S. Small Business Administration loans, insurance proceeds or any other duplication of benefits.
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, 30-Oct-2008 08:30:38