FEMA Housing Occupants Being Recertified
Release Date: February 19, 2005
Release Number: 1539-379
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Officials with the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have begun the process in Florida to review the eligibility of occupants living in FEMA travel travelers and mobile homes.
FEMA and Florida’s State Emergency Response Team (SERT) continue to assist Floridians with their housing needs, leasing occupants into travel trailers and mobile homes daily. In order to continue to occupy a temporary housing unit, occupants must make an ongoing effort to obtain permanent housing at the earliest possible date and accept adequate alternate housing when it becomes available.
FEMA housing personnel will regularly follow-up on the efforts of occupants of the travel trailers and mobile homes to obtain permanent housing.
Occupants must develop and pursue a permanent housing plan while staying in FEMA-provided temporary housing. Renters should contact their previous landlords to find out if they will be permitted to move back into their previous unit. Homeowners should follow-up with contractors on the progress of repair/rebuilding work.
FEMA personnel can refer those with special needs to state programs and voluntary agencies. Occupants with no housing options will be given information to help them find available lodging.
“The units FEMA brought in to ease Florida’s housing shortage after the hurricanes provide renters and homeowners with a safe, sanitary and functional place to live while repairs are made on their permanent homes,” said Craig Fugate, state coordinating officer with SERT. “It is now time to begin getting people back to more permanent arrangements.”
More than $537 million in the form of rental assistance and home repairs has been distributed to Floridians affected by the four hurricanes.
“FEMA, state officials and property owners continue to work in partnership during the recovery phase of these disasters,” said Bill Carwile, federal coordinating officer. “As federal dollars are disbursed, we hope Floridians make necessary repairs. We know renters and homeowners want to move back into their permanent residences as quickly as possible.”
Housing occupants receiving rental assistance who need additional funds must request that assistance through the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired. They will be asked to show that they have a continued housing need and have expended all rental funds previously received.
The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) is a collaboration of Florida’s state agencies led by the state coordinating officer. SERT’s mission is to ensure that Florida is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate their impacts. Visit www.floridadisaster.org for the latest information on the hurricane relief efforts.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and 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 and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Monday, 21-Feb-2005 18:05:39