Disaster Housing Programs - By Noah Patton, Housing Policy Analyst, 2022 ...
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Disaster Housing Programs
By Noah Patton, Housing Policy Analyst, systemic federal natural disaster assistance
NLIHC for state and local governments. Congress’
F
intention was to encourage states and localities
EMA leads the federal government’s efforts to to develop comprehensive disaster preparedness
prepare for potential disasters and to manage plans, prepare for better intergovernmental
the federal response and recovery efforts coordination in the face of a disaster, encourage
following any disaster that overwhelms local and the use of insurance coverage, and provide
state authorities. FEMA provides immediate, direct federal assistance for disaster-related losses.
financial and physical assistance to those affected
by disasters and is responsible for coordinating President George W. Bush signed the “Post-
government-wide relief efforts. Katrina Emergency Reform Act” on October 4,
2006. The act significantly reorganized FEMA and
HISTORY provided substantial new authority to remedy
gaps that became apparent in the response to
Until the 1930s, ad hoc legislation was passed
Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, including a
in response to hurricanes, earthquakes, floods,
more robust preparedness mission for FEMA.
and other natural disasters. When the federal
President Barack Obama signed the “Sandy
approach to disaster-related events became
Recovery Improvement Act (SRIA) of 2013”
popular, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
on January 29, 2013. SRIA authorized several
was given authority to make disaster loans
significant changes to the way FEMA delivered
for repair and reconstruction of certain public
federal disaster assistance.
facilities following an earthquake, and later,
other types of disasters. However, a piecemeal The “Disaster Recovery Reform Act,” (Public
approach to disaster assistance continued. Law 115-254), amending the “Robert T. Stafford
The “Disaster Relief Act of 1974” firmly Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act,”
established the process of presidential disaster was signed into law on October 5, 2018. The act
declarations. Finally, on April 1, 1979, President further reforms FEMA, increasing the agency’s
Jimmy Carter signed Executive Order 12127, pre-disaster planning process and its overall
merging many of the separate federal disaster- efficiency after the destructive 2017 hurricane
related responsibilities into the newly created and wildfire seasons. Notably, the act changes
FEMA. In 2003, FEMA became part of the new the factors FEMA considers when advising a
Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Long- president to issue a federal disaster declaration.
term recovery funding is also managed by HUD, The agency will now consider a disaster-stricken
which administers several programs focused on state’s ability to pay for its own recovery along
housing and economic recovery in areas struck with damage reports and assessments.
by disasters. During the COVID-19 pandemic, FEMA was not
The “Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and initially called upon to coordinate the response.
Emergency Assistance Act” (Public Law 100- Instead, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and
707), amending the “Disaster Relief Act of the Department of Health and Human Services
1974,” became law on November 23, 1988. It (DHHS) were placed in charge of the response.
created the system still in place today through This was done in accordance with pandemic-
which presidential disaster declaration of an related policies established in the past decade. As
emergency triggers financial and physical the scope of the pandemic became clear and CDC
assistance through FEMA. The act gives FEMA and DHHS capabilities began to be overwhelmed,
responsibility for coordinating government- FEMA was tasked with coordinating the federal
wide relief efforts and provides orderly and response. You can find out more about FEMA’s
6–48 2022 ADVOCATES’ GUIDEactions in the “Role of FEMA in COVID-19 otherwise inaccessible due to disaster damage.
Response” section of this guide. It is important to note that individuals who were
experiencing homelessness before a disaster are
FEDERAL PROGRAMS not eligible for the majority of IHP programs.
FEMA Since at least 1995, FEMA’s title requirement
Along with other government agencies, FEMA has barred many of the lowest-income survivors,
may provide disaster victims with low-interest including owners of mobile homes and other
loans, veterans’ benefits, tax refunds, excise tax low-income homeowners who may not have
relief, unemployment benefits, crisis counseling, updated title documentation, from receiving the
and free legal assistance. These resources are assistance for which they are eligible. After some
available once the president grants a governor’s recent disasters, FEMA allowed survivors to use
request for Individual Assistance (IA) programs a declaration form to prove ownership of their
as part of a major disaster declaration. FEMA home in cases where updated title documents
determines whether to recommend that the were inaccessible, but these forms were never
president approve IA by collecting Preliminary officially provided to disaster survivors by FEMA.
Damage Assessments and looking at the Due to pressure from NLIHC and its partners,
response capability, demographic data, and the agency recently expanded the list of eligible
economic indicators in disaster-affected areas. documentation permitted to demonstrate that a
Disaster housing and community development disaster survivor owns or occupies their home.
programs unique to FEMA include: Four types of housing assistance are available
Transitional Shelter Assistance (TSA). In under IHP. The first three are:
recent, large-scale disasters, FEMA provided TSA 1. Temporary housing assistance, which
to cover the cost of staying in an approved hotel includes:
or motel for an initial period of up to 14 days
– Lodging Expense Reimbursement (LER).
(which may be extended in 14-day intervals for
Financial assistance to reimburse for
up to six months). TSA does not cover additional
hotels, motels, or other short-term
fees, such as resort fees, that hotels may include
lodging while an applicant is displaced
in the cost of a room. Some participants in the
from their primary residence. Funds are
program have been required to present credit
awarded for expenses incurred from the
cards before being provided access to rooms
start date of the disaster to seven days
in accordance with an individual hotel’s policy
following the disaster survivor’s approval
on incidentals. These costs and requirements
for rental assistance. While LER is similar
constitute major barriers to accessing temporary
in concept to the TSA program discussed
housing under this program. TSA is funded
above, program funding is only available
through the Public Assistance Program,
to reimburse disaster survivors for short-
discussed later in this article.
term lodging costs that already have been
The Individuals and Households Program paid. As a result, this program is often
(IHP). The Housing Assistance provision of the inaccessible to disaster survivors with
IHP provides financial and direct assistance for lower incomes, who have less of an ability
disaster-caused housing needs not covered by to pay such expenses up front.
insurance or provided by any other source. IHP – Rental Assistance. FEMA may provide for
Assistance lasts for 18 months, although the 18 months of financial assistance to rent
impacted state may request an extension that temporary housing. The initial amount is
must be approved by FEMA personnel. To receive based on the impacted area’s Fair Market
IHP housing funds, a disaster survivors’ home Rent (FMR) and covers rent plus utilities
must be shown at inspection to be uninhabitable typically for two months, although it may
and require repairs to be made habitable or be
NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION 6–49also be used as a security deposit equal family rental properties and make
to one month of FMR. Households may repairs to provide temporary housing.
seek Continued Temporary Housing d. Permanent or Semi-Permanent
Assistance when alternate housing is not Housing Construction, which allows
available. Full rental assistance is available home repair and/or construction
or a period of 18 months. FEMA’s rental services to be provided in insular
assistance program often is unworkable areas outside the continental U.S. and
for low-income survivors because other locations where no alternative
assistance is only provided in 2-month housing resources are available, and
increments and the amount of assistance where other types of FEMA Housing
may not be enough to secure housing. Assistance are unavailable, infeasible,
– Direct Temporary Housing Assistance. or not cost effective.
FEMA may provide direct housing 2. Home repair cash grants, available to
assistance when disaster survivors are homeowners for damage not covered by
unable to use Rental Assistance due to insurance. These grants are intended to
a lack of available housing resources. repair homes to safe, sanitary, or functional
The program is open to renters whose conditions. Grants are not intended to return
primary residence was destroyed and to the home to its pre-disaster condition.
homeowners whose primary residence However, recent FEMA reforms now permit
suffered damage above $12 per square accessibility features needed due to a
foot. Recipients of Direct Temporary disaster-created disability, as well as some
Housing Assistance are required to work home strengthening measures to be added.
with a case manager to access alternative
3. Home replacement cash grants, available
permanent housing at the conclusion of
to homeowners to help replace a destroyed
the program. Assistance is provided for
home that is not covered by insurance.
up to 18 months unless extended at the
request of the impacted government and Other Needs Assistance (ONA): In addition
approved by FEMA. Direct Temporary to housing assistance, the IHP includes Other
Housing Assistance is not counted toward Needs Assistance (ONA), which provides financial
the IHP maximum award amount and assistance for disaster-related necessary
must be specifically requested by the expenses. There are two categories of ONA: those
impacted government. Direct Temporary that do not require a household to have been
Housing Assistance may include: denied a Small Business Administration (SBA)
a. Direct Lease Program, which allows loan, and those that do require such a denial.
FEMA to lease directly with existing, “Non-SBA dependent” types of ONA that may be
non-damaged, rental properties for awarded regardless of a household’s SBA status
disaster survivors. In recent years, include covering medical, dental, childcare, and
Direct Lease Programs have been funeral expenses. Also included in this category
unable to serve many households is Critical Needs Assistance, which provides up to
because it has been challenging to $500 to meet lifesaving or life-sustaining needs
recruit landlords to participate. such as water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant
formula, diapers, consumable medical supplies
b. Manufactured Housing Units provided
and durable medical equipment, and fuel for
by FEMA and made available to use as
transportation. Assistance that depends on a
temporary housing.
household being denied an SBA loan or receiving
c. Multi-Family Lease and Repair, which
a partial SBA loan that is not adequate to meet
allows FEMA to enter into lease
needs include funds to repair or replace damaged
agreements with owners of multi-
personal property, repair or replace vehicles, and
6–50 2022 ADVOCATES’ GUIDEcover moving and storage costs. State, Tribal, NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
and Territorial governments are required to PROGRAM
pay for 25% of ONA costs, while FEMA covers
the remaining 75%. Governments can decide The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
to administer the program directly, in tandem was created in 1968 to make flood insurance
with FEMA, or allow FEMA to fully administer the available to homeowners for the first time. The
program. “Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973” made
the purchase of flood insurance mandatory for
Public Assistance (PA): FEMA provides disaster properties in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs)
assistance to state, territorial, tribal, and local if the property had a mortgage from a federally
governments as well as certain private nonprofits regulated or insured lender. To participate in
through the PA program. Under the Permanent NFIP, a community must adopt and enforce
Work component of Public Assistance, FEMA floodplain management ordinances. The NFIP
provides grants to state and local governments has an arrangement with private insurance firms
to repair roads, bridges, water control facilities, to sell and service flood insurance.
public utilities, public buildings, and parks and
recreational facilities (Categories C through G). HUD
In addition, PA can be provided to nonprofits to
Community Development Block Grant
restore damaged facilities, which could include
Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR): CDBG-DR
repair funds for public housing agencies. The
funding is provided for presidentially declared
Emergency Work component of PA aids in the
major disasters by appropriations acts and
removal of debris and carries out emergency
is generally tailored to specific disasters. To
protective measures – which can include
determine how much a state or local government
emergency mass sheltering (Categories A and B).
receives, HUD uses a formula that considers
FEMA generally provides 75% of the cost of PA,
damage estimates and disaster recovery needs
requiring the state and subgrantees (for example,
unmet by other federal disaster assistance
counties) to provide the remaining 25%. FEMA
programs such as FEMA and SBA. In addition
has the authority to temporarily modify this cost
to any requirements cited in the specific
share ratio under certain circumstances.
appropriation act, the regular CDBG regulations
Hazard Mitigation Grant-Program (HMGP): at 24 CFR 570 apply to CDBG-DR funds. However,
To reduce the risk of damage and reliance on CDBG-DR appropriations generally grant HUD
federal recovery funds in future disasters, FEMA broad authority to issue waivers and alternative
administers the HMGP. HMGP provides state requirements identified in a Federal Register notice
and local governments funds for long-term issued by HUD following the announcement of
mitigation following a federally declared disaster. the appropriation.
Nonprofits, individuals, and businesses may
CDBG-DR grantees, usually states, must prepare
apply through their local government. Uses of
an action plan to assess housing, infrastructure,
HMGP include acquiring an individual property
and economic revitalization needs and then
in a flood-prone zone and permanently removing
identify activities to address unmet needs.
the property, raising a home so that flood water
Public participation in devising the action plan
flows underneath, erecting barriers to prevent
is required. In the regular CDBG program, a
flood water from entering a home, flood diversion
minimum 30-day public review and comment
and storage, and aquifer storage and recovery.
period is required. However, in recent CDBG-
FEMA provides up to 75% of the funds for
DR Federal Register notices, HUD has reduced
mitigation projects.
the public participation period to a mere 14
days. Advocates stress that more time for public
engagement is necessary, especially since the
consequences of the final plan will have long-
NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION 6–51term impacts on low-income households. is provided for areas that suffered from a
presidentially declared disaster and is distributed
The regular CDBG program requires that at
similarly to CDBG-DR. Program funding is
least 70% of the funds be used for activities that
available for mitigation and resiliency projects,
benefit low- and moderate-income households
defined as activities that reduce the risk to
or those with income at or less than 80% of the
life and property by lessening the impact of a
area median income. The CDBG-DR Federal
future disaster. These projects are not required
Register notices regarding funds for the 2017
to address an existing disaster impact, but
disasters maintained the 70% low/mod-income
rather, areas that are likely to be impacted in the
benefit requirement; however, most of the major
future. Like the CDBG-DR program, the regular
notices between Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and
CDBG regulations at 24 CFR 70 apply to CDBG-
2016 allowed waivers so that only 50% of the
MIT funding subject to waivers and alternative
CDBG-DR had to meet the low/mod benefit test.
requirements released by HUD in the program’s
In 2020 FEMA and HUD signed a Memorandum
enacting Federal Register Notice.
of Understanding that streamlined the use of
CDBG-DR funds to pay for portions of FEMA PA The process for CDBG-MIT grantees is also
projects. Under this new streamlining agreement, essentially the same as the CDBG-DR program,
only the portion of the project funded directly with the grantee developing an action plan
by HUD CDBG-DR is required to meet CDBG that outlines the planned use of the funds. The
requirements, such as targeting low income plans are subject to public comment and HUD
households. Previously, the use of CDBG-DR approval. The program requires a 30-day public
funding on FEMA PA projects would extend such participation window and specifies a minimum
requirements to the entire project. number of public meetings to be held that
correspond to the amount of funding allocated
Recent Federal Register notices have required that
to that state. As this program is relatively new,
at least 80% of the total funds provided to a state
program guidelines and policies can be expected
address unmet needs within an area designated
to change as the program develops.
by HUD as being the most impacted and
distressed. They have also required the action Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP):
plan to propose allocating CDBG-DR to primarily The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005
address unmet housing needs and describe how demonstrated that HUD, not FEMA, was best
the grantee’s program will promote housing for suited to oversee and administer federal disaster
vulnerable populations, including a description housing assistance to the lowest-income people.
of activities to address the housing needs of Congress amended the “Stafford Act” to require
homeless people and to prevent extremely low- the federal government to create a disaster
income households from becoming homeless. housing plan. In 2009, that plan made it clear
that HUD should play a key role in creating and
Grantees must submit Quarterly Performance
operating disaster housing assistance programs
Reports (QPRs) using HUD’s electronic
and recommended that Congress make the DHAP
Disaster Recovery Grant Reporting System
permanent. The 2011 National Disaster Recovery
showing each activity’s progress, expenditures,
Framework also recommended that HUD, not
accomplishments, and beneficiary characteristics
FEMA, serve as the coordinating agency for
such as race, ethnicity, and gender.
delivering housing assistance. However, before
CDBG Mitigation (CDBG-MIT): As part of HUD can put a DHAP program in place, FEMA
a new focus on pre-disaster mitigation and must enter an interagency agreement with HUD.
preparedness after the destructive 2017 and In the wake of recent major disasters, FEMA has
2018 hurricane seasons, Congress has begun resisted working with HUD to stand up DHAP
to appropriate funds under a HUD CDBG-MIT programs.
program. Like CDBG-DR, CDBG-MIT funding
DHAP has been used after past disasters,
6–52 2022 ADVOCATES’ GUIDEincluding Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, Ike, enables those who have lost their homes to
and Sandy, to provide low-income, displaced finance the purchase of or refinance a house
families with safe, decent, and affordable rental along with repairs through a single mortgage.
homes while they rebuild their lives and get back It also allows homeowners who have damaged
on their feet. DHAP is administered through houses to finance the rehabilitation of their
HUD’s existing network of local public housing existing single-family home.
agencies, which have significant local market
knowledge and experience administering HUD’s U.S. SMALL BUSINESS
Housing Choice Voucher program. ADMINISTRATION
DHAP provides displaced households with After households apply to FEMA, they might
temporary rental assistance, covering the cost be contacted by SBA to apply for a low-interest
difference between what a family can afford loan. If eligible, the household does not have
to pay and their rent, capped at a reasonable to accept the loan. If a household is not eligible
amount. Over the course of several months, for an SBA loan, they will be referred to FEMA
families are required to pay a greater share of to be considered for a FEMA ONA grant. To be
their rent to encourage and help them assume considered for an ONA grant, a household must
full responsibility for housing costs at the end have submitted an SBA loan application.
of the program. All families receiving DHAP SBA can provide physical disaster loans to cover
rental assistance are provided wrap-around uninsured or uncompensated losses of a home or
case management services to help them find personal property. A homeowner can apply for a
permanent housing, secure employment, and loan to repair or rebuild a primary residence to
connect with public benefits. its pre-disaster condition based on the verified
DHAP helps fill the gaps that low-income losses and homeowners may apply for up to
households experience with FEMA’s Transitional $200,000 to repair or replace their home to its
Shelter Assistance (TSA) and Rental Assistance pre-disaster condition. The loan amount can
programs. Many hotels do not participate in increase by as much as 20% to help homeowners
TSA, and those that do often charge daily resort rebuild in a manner that protects against damage
fees, ask for security deposits, and require that from future disasters of the same kind, up to
displaced households have credit cards, all of the $200,000 maximum. Both homeowners and
which are barriers for low-income households. renters may apply for loans—up to $40,000—
Because disasters generally reduce the amount to replace personal property (anything not
of available housing stock, low-income renters considered real estate or part of the structure
are often unable to use FEMA Rental Assistance of the home) lost in a disaster. The interest rate
in their communities. If a displaced household on SBA physical disaster loans depends on the
relocates, the Rental Assistance amount, which applicant’s ability to secure credit from another
is based on the Fair Market Rent (FMR) of the source. In 2017, applicants unable to obtain
impacted area, may not be enough to cover the credit elsewhere were charged 1.75% interest;
cost of an apartment in a different community. for those who could obtain credit elsewhere, the
interest rate was 3.5%. The term of loans is often
Federal Housing Administration (FHA): The
30 years.
FHA grants a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures
and forbearance on foreclosures of FHA-insured Businesses, including rental property owners
home mortgages. HUD’s Section 203(h) program and nonprofit organizations, can apply for loans
provides FHA insurance to disaster victims who for real estate and personal property loss up to a
have lost their homes and need to rebuild or buy maximum of $2 million. In addition, businesses
another home. Borrowers from participating and nonprofits can apply for economic injury
FHA-approved lenders may be eligible for 100% loans of up to $2 million to cover working capital
financing. HUD’s Section 203(k) loan program to meet their ordinary financial obligations.
NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION 6–53U.S. DEPARTMENT OF household of providing evidence of income
AGRICULTURE eligibility. All other LIHTC rules apply, however,
including LIHTC rent limits. The emergency
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) relief period ends one year after the date the
provides loans, grants, and loan servicing options disaster was declared. After that date, displaced
to its loan borrowers and their tenants or grant households that are not income-eligible under
recipients. It also will adjust Supplemental the LIHTC program cannot occupy a unit assisted
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) limits to under the LIHTC program. To provide emergency
provide greater access to food in disaster-effected housing, an owner must request written approval
areas. from the HFA.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE Additional issues can arise when LIHTC units are
TREASURY damaged by disasters. Owners of LIHTC units
knocked out of service by a presidentially declared
Congress authorized the Department of the disaster have a “reasonable period” (defined as 25
Treasury to provide special Low-Income Housing months by the IRS) to finish rebuilding to retain
Tax Credits (LIHTCs) and other tax incentives their tax-credit status and avoid IRS tax credit
after recent major disasters without a permanent recapture. Depending on the level of devastation
disaster recovery program in place. In the case caused by the disaster, some owners struggle
of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Treasury to meet this deadline. Housing providers can
established Gulf Opportunity (GO) Zone tax petition the IRS for an extension to the 25-month
credits, GO Zone tax-exempt bonds, and additional deadline if needed although such extensions are
New Markets Tax Credits to help rebuild housing. considered rare. This issue was notably seen in
After Superstorm Sandy in 2011, Congress also California after the 2018 wildfire season and in
authorized additional LIHTCs, private activity the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Houston.
bonds, and New Markets Tax Credits. The same Advocates and housing providers should remain
occurred after the 2018 California wildfire season, aware of this deadline and work proactively to
with Congress approving additional LIHTC avoid a lapse in tax-credit status and possible
funding to replaced destroyed housing stock. recapture.
Revenue Procedure 2014-49 (Rev. Proc. 2014-
49) from 2014 provides guidance to owners and FORECAST FOR 2022
state housing finance agencies (HFAs) regarding The ongoing recovery from 2017, 2018, 2019,
temporary relief from certain requirements that and 2020 disasters, as well as the 2021 Atlantic
apply to the LIHTC program. A key provision Hurricane Season and West Coast Wildfire Season,
allows an owner to provide up to twelve months pushed Congress to introduce several bills that
of emergency housing to households that have encourage quick and equitable recovery. In 2021,
been displaced by a presidentially declared major Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Susan Collins (R-
disaster. Households are eligible for emergency ME), Todd Young (R-IN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Bill
housing in an LIHTC unit if their home is in an Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR),
area eligible for FEMA individual assistance. and Representative Al Green (D-TX) introduced
Unless a property’s written policies and the “Reforming Disaster Recovery Act,” which
procedures provide a preference for households permanently authorizes the CDBG-DR program.
displaced by a presidentially declared disaster, an The bill also creates important safeguards and
owner may not skip over households on a waiting tools to ensure that federal disaster recovery and
list to provide emergency housing. Existing rebuilding efforts reach all impacted households,
households cannot be displaced to provide including those with the lowest incomes that are
emergency housing. often hardest hit by disasters but have the fewest
resources. NLIHC strongly supports this bill.
Rev. Proc. 2014-49 relieves an owner and
6–54 2022 ADVOCATES’ GUIDEThe bill has previously passed out of the House advocates should remain aware of administrative
Financial Services Committee by unanimous vote and programmatic releases from federal agencies
and passed by a bipartisan vote of the House of surrounding disaster recovery. FEMA has recently
Representatives. demonstrated a commitment to equity within its
programs, indicating that substantial changes
In addition, the “Housing Survivors of
are underway at the agency. One major reform
Major Disasters Act” introduced in 2019 by
announced by FEMA in 2021 would permit some
Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NJ) and
survivors to self-certify ownership of their homes
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) passed
when they do not have other documentation,
unanimously out of the House Transportation
overcoming a major hurdle to recovery. FEMA will
and Infrastructure Committee and then the
also allow all survivors to submit a broader array
entire House of Representatives in 2020. The
of documents to prove occupancy and ownership
bill addresses the requirement that applicants
of their homes. This reform was the result of
for FEMA disaster assistance provide title
sustained administrative pressure by NLIHC and
documentation to show ownership over disaster
its partners. Advocates should monitor FEMA
damaged property. This requirement constitutes
and other federal agency releases on this and
a major barrier to aid for low income households.
additional disaster recovery topics.
People living in manufactured housing such as
mobile homes and people with “heirs property” HUD has released guidance and allocations
ownership over their home often lack access for almost all 2017, 2018, and 2019 CDBG-
to clear title. These households are forced DR grantees in the Federal Register. Funds are
into lengthy and expensive legal title clearing currently being spent at different rates across
procedures before they can be found eligible for 2017-2019 disaster regions with states pursuing
FEMA assistance. The bill would require FEMA the completion of their state CDBG-DR/CDBG-
to expand the list of documents eligible to prove MIT action plans. The reasons for the slow
ownership for the purposes of receiving recovery disbursement range from issues with community
assistance and require the agency to develop input for the program, high administrative
a “declarative form” allowing owners who are burdens, and the COVID-19 pandemic. As the
unable to procure ownership documents to attest process continues, advocates should be prepared
to ownership of their home under penalty of to ensure that all guidelines and policies,
perjury. The bill will continue to be pushed by including federal civil rights law, are being
NLIHC and its congressional partners in 2022. followed as long-term recovery dollars begin to
reach disaster areas.
Several other Members of Congress introduced
bills directing FEMA to standardize damage In October of 2021, Congress approved $5 billion
assessments, streamline emergency notification in long-term recovery funds for 2020-2021
services, and boost pre-disaster planning efforts. disasters. Advocates should continue to push the
Congress will work in the coming year to enact Administration and state and local governments
bills to assist those struck by disasters in 2020 to ensure these CDBG-DR allocations reach
and 2021, including Hurricane Laura, Sally, Delta, disaster survivors with low-incomes especially as
Zeta, and Irma, the West Coast Wildfires, the FEMA programs assisting in short-term disaster
Puerto Rico earthquakes, the Iowa Derecho, and recovery begin to expire.
additional disasters as they occur. In October of
2021, Congress approved $5 billion in long-term FOR MORE INFORMATION
recovery funds for 2020-2021 disasters. Any National Low-Income Housing Coalition, 202-
future disaster relief bill should include resources 662-1530, www.nlihc.org.
to ensure that all survivors, including people with
the lowest incomes, are served. The NLIHC-led Disaster Housing Recovery
Coalition: https://nlihc.org/disaster-housing-
In addition to potential legislative changes, coalition.
NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION 6–55The Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition’s webpage, http://nlihc.org/issues/disaster, including its recommendations: • To Congress. • To HUD. • To FEMA. NLIHC’s Report, “Reforming America’s Broken Disaster Housing Recovery System, Part One: Barriers to a Complete and Equitable Recovery”, https://bit.ly/2RZHmuK & “Part Two: Policy Framework Reform Recommendations”, https:// bit.ly/3n5lnzq. NLIHC’s Top Priorities for Any Disaster Recovery Package, https://bit.ly/2K8Mp6b. NLIHC’s Disaster Recovery Resources webpage: https://nlihc.org/issues/disaster/resources. NLIHC’s Disaster Housing Assistance Program fact sheet: https://bit.ly/2QZ2WvP. NLIHC’s Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition’s Administrative Transition Recommendations, https://bit.ly/3gD7GFf. 6–56 2022 ADVOCATES’ GUIDE
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