Competitive Grant Process Leads To The Selection Of Top Projects For $400 Million Alternative Housing Pilot Program 

Release Date: December 22, 2006
Release Number: HQ-06-166

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today projects selected under the Alternative Housing Pilot Program (AHPP).  The pilot program aims to expand the types of housing FEMA provides disaster-affected communities by identifying, developing and evaluating alternatives to FEMA travel trailers and mobile homes. This program will also provide housing to people with on-going housing needs due to the 2005 hurricanes in the Gulf Coast. 

"FEMA's alternative housing grants will ultimately come down to helping people in rebuilding their lives after a disaster," said FEMA Director David Paulison.  "The more that FEMA can improve the process for individual victims, the more quickly we can accelerate recovery for the entire community."

The states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas all submitted projects that ranked as the most competitive to receive grant funding, with the projects providing a high degree of confidence in achieving their goal.  The pilot program provides grant assistance to projects that demonstrate alternative housing which can be produced, transported and installed in a timely manner and in appropriate quantities, and are adaptable to a variety of site conditions that will facilitate sustainable and permanent housing.  Examples of alternative housing projects selected include single family modular homes that can be deconstructed, one story multifamily units that offer varying layouts, modular units placed on an undercarriage and frame, and pre-fabricated panelized housing, and others.

As part of the awards process, a national evaluation panel including non-governmental organizations, industry and government representatives, conducted an evaluation of the proposals, and submitted their evaluation to FEMA's Director of Recovery who also served as the Primary Selecting Official for the program.  In all, the evaluation panel reviewed five proposals containing a total of 29 different projects, with the selecting official responsible for reviewing the panel's findings, and identifying the top projects that FEMA would discuss with the states. The selection of states receiving grant funding was done in a way to maximize the number of competitive states that receive awards.

The grant program and funding amounts listed for each project represents the anticipated award amount, and would only go "up to" that dollar amount.  The final approval and funding of the grants will only be completed and awarded after a thorough review by the FEMA grants office and after all findings and information about the validity of the projects are complete.

Prior to awarding any grants FEMA will work with states to substantiate the validity of the projects, and gather any additional information that is needed to complete the grant award process.

Presently, FEMA's ability to provide disaster housing is limited to the provisions provided for in the Stafford Act, as amended by the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007, which gave FEMA broad new authority.  Congress appropriated $400 million in the 2006 Emergency Appropriations Act for the alternative housing program initiative, which provides the ability to examine recent and innovative approaches that may have the potential to meet the housing needs in the aftermath of future national disasters.

The grant guidance was designed to encourage innovation and creativity, as well as to develop alternative housing that can be produced, transported and installed in a timely manner.

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: Friday, 22-Dec-2006 11:35:34