Important Dates And Information On FEMA's Hotel/Motel Program For Katrina/Rita Evacuees
Release Date: January 23, 2006
Release Number: HQ-06-013FactSheet
The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided direct payment for hotel and motel rooms for Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees across the country as part of its unprecedented effort to support sheltering, interim and long term housing solutions for the largest displacement of people in the country's history.
On January 9, 2006, FEMA announced that evacuees staying in hotel or motel rooms would be required to obtain an authorization code from FEMA by January 30, 2006, in order to continue to receive the subsidy beyond February 7, 2006. Authorization codes are issued on a case-by-case basis, and are obtained by calling FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (for the TTY caller, 1-800-462-7585).
FEMA payments for hotel or motel rooms will end on February 7 for those evacuees who do not contact FEMA for an authorization code. The code will also immediately be required for evacuees who change hotels or are checking in for the first time between now and Feb. 7.
Once a family has their unique authorization code, they will be authorized for a hotel reimbursement extension through at least Feb. 13 while FEMA processes their application. And in every case, FEMA will fund the hotel or motel room for evacuees for at least two weeks after they have received a determination on their request for assistance from FEMA whether they are eligible to receive rental assistance or not.
If evacuees have not received an eligibility decision on temporary housing assistance by Jan. 30, 2006, and have obtained an authorization code by that date, FEMA will continue to pay for that hotel room with an authorization code through March 1, 2006, or two weeks after receiving eligibility determination, whichever is later. In every case, FEMA will fund the hotel or motel room for evacuees for two weeks after they have received a determination on their request for assistance from FEMA.
The authorization code allows FEMA to work closely with individuals and families displaced by the hurricanes to ensure they are registered with FEMA for assistance and to ensure they are fully processed for rental assistance eligibility before making the transition to longer-term housing. If eligible, evacuees may receive cash rental assistance from FEMA for up to 18 months. Evacuees DO NOT need to complete a Small Business Administration loan application to be eligible for FEMA housing assistance.
More than 1,300 FEMA employees and partners, including 800 Community Relations strike force staff and 500 call center staff, are working directly with evacuees to help understand their options for moving out of hotels and motels and into longer-term homes, such as apartments. FEMA has also ensured that flyers are placed in each hotel room occupied by evacuees on four separate occasions since the January 9 announcement of the authorization code requirement to communicate the dates associated with the end of the program. Additional flyers will be distributed again this week as well.
Evacuees needing assistance with housing can tap into a number of resources, including:
FEMA's Housing Locator Service: 1-800-762-8740 (open daily from 8 am - 9 pm EST)
TTY 1-800-462-7585
FEMA's Help Line: 1-800-621-FEMA (open 24 hours daily)
TTY 1-800-462-7585
HUD Programs (general inquiries): 1-800-955-2232
TTY is 1-800-877-8339
HUD Disaster Housing Assistance: 1-866-373-9509
TTY 1-800-877-8339
To see the most recent FEMA state-by-state data on hotel rooms participating in the FEMA hotel/motel direct bill program, go to www.fema.gov/katrina .
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 24-Jan-2006 13:25:00