Evacuees Should Use FEMA Rental Assistance to Pay Rent
Release Date: July 14, 2006
Release Number: 1606-229
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AUSTIN, Texas -- “Use your rental assistance for rent.” That’s the standard message from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as reports surface that many Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees are not using their rental money from FEMA as required.
Rental receipts are not necessary for those evacuees currently in public agency sheltering programs, but anyone receiving rental checks directly from FEMA must show proof that the money has been used to pay rent if evacuees are to continue to be eligible for federal help.
“Rental assistance is designed by law to help disaster survivors to have a roof over their heads during the effort to reestablish their lives,” said E.C. “Butch” Smith, director of the Texas Transitional Recovery Office. “It is vital that evacuees show they have used FEMA’s money for this purpose.”
Disaster survivors receiving checks directly from FEMA may choose any housing solution that best serves the needs of their family. But registrants whose landlords are willing to be registered with FEMA’s payment agent, Corporate Lodging Consultants, may have their rent paid directly to the landlord.
Valid receipts are required to document the use of the rental assistance. Receipts must be legible, include dates covered by the rent, include the name of the person or agency to whom the rent was paid, have the landlord’s signature, the amount paid, the address of the rental unit and the landlord’s name, address and telephone number.
For more information, call FEMA’s helpline, 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585.
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: Monday, 17-Jul-2006 07:16:23