FEMA Housing Deadline March 2009: Options Still Available
Release Date: June 20, 2007
Release Number: 1604-559
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BILOXI, Miss. -- Nearly 30,000 Mississippi families have moved out of temporary travel trailers and mobile homes and on with their personal recovery. The deadline for temporary housing assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is extended until March 2009 and help remains available for those who need it.
Sales to Occupants Program
The recently launched Sales to Occupants Program will allow eligible applicants to purchase the unit they currently occupy at a reduced price. Once occupants purchase the unit, they will no longer be eligible for FEMA Housing Assistance.
Disaster Housing Assistance Program
The Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP) was created by FEMA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help families move toward self-sufficiency. FEMA will continue to manage its mobile home and travel trailer operations throughout the Gulf Coast and will work with HUD and state and local leaders to identify more permanent housing solutions for those in mobile homes or travel trailers.
FEMA rental assistance will transition its program responsibilities for displaced residents to HUD Sept. 1, 2007. Beginning in March 2008, families receiving FEMA rental assistance or living in a FEMA travel trailer or mobile home will pay a small portion of the cost, which will begin at $50 per month and increase each month by $50 until either the household's financial ability to pay is reached or the Fair Market Rent for the type of unit is reached, whichever is lower.
When the program ends March 1, 2009, the federal government will have provided over three-and-a-half years of temporary housing assistance following the hurricanes of 2005, in addition to other resources to rebuild the Gulf Coast.
Direct Pay: Corporate Lodging Consultant Program
FEMA's Corporate Lodging Consultant program assists families who are renting property by paying landlords directly. The program ensures prompt payments to the landlords, allows for better accountability by the federal government, and frees applicants from having to make the payments themselves. Landlords interested in participating in the CLC program can call 1-866-362-0742 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday or visit the CLC website at www.corplodging.com/femadap. The CLC program will transition when HUD takes over program responsibilities Sept. 1, 2007.
Mississippi Alternative Housing Program
FEMA travel trailer or mobile home occupants in the three coastal counties may be selected to participate in the Mississippi Alternative Housing Program (MAHP). Eligible applicants were selected through a random, proportional selection process and will be notified by MAHP staff if they are eligible for the program.
This program is being administered by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Mississippi was selected to receive a $280 million federal grant for the pilot project. The goal of the program is to develop and produce a safer and more comfortable disaster housing unit. To learn more about the program and the units currently under production visit www.mscottage.org or call 1-866-726-MAHP (6247) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Travel Trailer/Mobile Home Sales to the General Public
Anyone interested in purchasing a FEMA travel trailer or mobile home, whether a FEMA applicant or not, can view available units on the U.S. General Services Administration website at www.gsaauctions.gov.
Mississippi has received more than $863 million in FEMA Housing Assistance through the Individuals and Households Program. This includes funding for rental assistance and home repairs as well as money toward home replacement, and temporary housing. More than $310 million has been disbursed to 124,977 Mississippians for rental assistance since September 2005.
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: Wednesday, 20-Jun-2007 15:42:40