Evacuees in Texas Transition to Longer Term Housing Assistance
Evacuees Asked to Contact FEMA with Their Most Current Information
Release Date: April 26, 2006
Release Number: 1606-201
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AUSTIN, Texas -- As over 22,000 households transfer from emergency sheltering into longer term housing, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is continuing to review additional applicant data for evacuees living in the city of Houston. The evacuees displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are transitioning from FEMA's emergency sheltering program into its Housing Assistance program in Houston and throughout Texas.
The Housing Assistance program provides for rental assistance to uninsured or underinsured Hurricane Rita or Katrina evacuees whose primary residence whether a renter or a homeowner was made uninhabitable by the disasters. The rental assistance is available for up to 18 months from the date the disaster was declared and by law cannot duplicate insurance or other forms of disaster assistance.
"FEMA is working diligently with a special task force to expedite and review the cases of those found to be ineligible for the Housing Assistance program, and is providing every opportunity for evacuees to demonstrate eligibility," said Butch Smith, director of FEMA's Transitional Recovery Office in Austin. "FEMA is sending multiple letters and flyers, making outbound calls, using auto-dialer calls, re-inspecting some dwellings, and attempting to verify pre-disaster occupancy for the evacuees."
As evacuees are found to be eligible for the FEMA Housing Assistance program, leases already established will be continued between the evacuee and the landlord directly, with rental assistance coming through FEMA's Housing Assistance Program. In those instances where ongoing leases are converted from the state or local entity directly to the individual, rent payments will be made by FEMA through its payment agent, Corporate Lodging Consultants (CLC), Inc., directly to the landlord. Tenants with month-to-month rental agreements who are receiving rental assistance funds directly from FEMA will be responsible for paying landlords directly. All registrants must recertify their eligibility every three months.
As evacuees are notified by FEMA that they are ineligible for FEMA's Housing Assistance program, the state or local entity will provide notice to the landlords that their obligation to the lease will end in 30 days. By state law, landlords must give tenants 30 days notice, allowing evacuees an additional transition time either to begin making rental payments from their own resources or to transition to a new housing solution through their own efforts or referrals to federal, state or local human services agencies and voluntary organizations.
There are a number of reasons an evacuee may be ineligible for housing assistance, including having losses covered by insurance; having been assisted through another household member; not being able to verify occupancy of the pre-disaster dwelling; the damage claimed was to property other than a primary residence; and having insufficient disaster-related damage to the dwelling.
In many cases, applications were withdrawn because FEMA representatives were unable to contact applicants at the addresses or phone numbers provided during registration. It is essential that all applicants update this information either through the FEMA helpline or online at www.fema.gov.
Individuals who believe they have been found ineligible incorrectly should begin the appeals process with 60 days of receiving their letter determining them to be ineligible. Individuals should contact the FEMA Helpline by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), (TTY: 1-800-462-7585).
FEMA issued disaster specific guidance to state and local governments on March 26 detailing how the conversion from temporary sheltering to traditional housing assistance will be implemented. That guidance was soon followed by letters sent from FEMA to evacuees informing them whether they were eligible or ineligible for continued rental assistance under the Housing Assistance program.
Currently in Houston, about 22,351 households have been determined to be eligible for conversion, and 8,371 households have been determined to be ineligible as of April 21. Another 3,908 households are still being processed and have an undetermined status or more information is needed as of April 17. Outside of Houston in other Texas communities, some 3,776 households have been determined to be eligible, with 969 households declared ineligible. An estimated 3,000 households have an undetermined status at this time.
Last week, FEMA provided Houston with the data matches of evacuees who were eligible or ineligible, and FEMA continues to work closely with the city of Houston to correlate their respective databases. Houston officials now have the information available to be able to inform landlords that for eligible applicants, the landlord must contact CLC for instructions for the conversion. The city should also advise landlords as to which leases are not eligible for continued assistance.
"There remains a population where data matches have not yet been achieved, and FEMA is working with Houston officials, granting limited extensions and resolving any discrepancies," Smith said. "FEMA stands ready to support the city of Houston in accomplishing a smooth transition."
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 16-May-2006 09:07:42