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FEMA Housing Assistance: Home Ownership Verification

To qualify for FEMA’s home repair assistance, individuals must own their home. Some properties are excluded from this type of aid—including second homes, vacation homes and businesses and it is important to determine that your property qualifies.

Proofs of Home Ownership

Below are several types of documents that you can show the FEMA inspector to prove that you legally owned the home at the time of the disaster. Your name on the following documents serves as proof you are the legal owner of the home:

• Deed or Official Record

• Mortgage Payment Book

• Real Property Insurance

• Tax Receipts or a Property Tax Bill

• Property Title or Mobile Home Certificate of Title

• Contract for Deed

• Land Installment Contract

• Quitclaim Deed

• Bill of Sale or Bond for Title

If you don’t have any of the above documents or you have questions about what you can do to demonstrate home ownership to FEMA, call 800-621-3362. For TTY, call 800-462-7585. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362. Specialists are also available to help survivors in person at a disaster recovery center. To find the one closest to you, call 800-621-3362 or go online to https://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/.

NFIP Deadline extended

 Policyholders now have 120 days from the date of loss to file a flood insurance claim. This extension doubles the 60-day deadline NFIP usually requires.

Housing Options in Louisiana:

 TSA: For those who are eligible for FEMA assistance, FEMA transitional sheltering assistance provides lodging to displaced survivors who need a roof over their heads immediately. FEMA pays the hotel/motels directly; funds are not disbursed to survivors for this. This gives survivors one less detail to track.

o As of Sept. 23, there were 2,527 hotel check-ins.

o What is needed to make a request or a request for an extension for TSA

o A completed form FEMA provides you. Contact FEMA if you haven’t received a form.

o A copy of your lease.

o Receipts showing proper use of the federal disaster housing assistance you’ve received.

o Current household income status.

o Any household financial obligations.

 Shelter at Home: The state-run program "Shelter at Home" contracts basic repairs to homes that can be made livable with up to $15,000 worth of work. The state has had more than 19,000 applications.

o This program is a partially FEMA-funded program, but survivors must register with the state. For information on this program, call 800-927-0216 or go to: https://shelterathome.la.gov/.

o Participation in the "Shelter at Home" program will not affect any FEMA assistance.

 IHP: In addition, FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program provides financial assistance in the form of grants to Louisiana survivors with uninsured or under-insured flood-related losses.

 FEMA Rental Assistance: Survivors may use rental assistance to obtain temporary housing such as a house, apartment, hotel, motel, manufactured home, recreational vehicle, or other readily-fabricated dwelling available for rent.

o Rental assistance totals have topped $118 million. Rental assistance for temporary housing are for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to two months.

 MHU/Last Resort: The option of last resort, is the use of manufactured housing units, or MHUs.

o Factors that need to be addressed in order to be eligible:

 FEMA interview with the survivor;

 Identifying feasible sites that can accommodate the housing units;

 Securing appropriate permits from the local jurisdiction;

 Clearing debris from identified feasible sites;

 Inspecting sites to ensure safety;

 Installing the units on site and having them inspected by the parish; and

 Working with the survivor to receive a legal license agreement to live in the unit.

 For landlords:

o Through the Multi-family Lease and Repair Program (MLRP), FEMA may contract with a property owner to provide funds for repair, or contract directly to implement repairs, to multi-family housing to make temporary housing available for individuals and households eligible for FEMA assistance. The MLRP may provide funds to make rental units livable again in order to lease them to provide temporary housing to eligible disaster survivors.

 Repairs or improvements don’t need to be storm-or-flood-related.

 Property owners may choose their own contractors after agreeing on repair costs with FEMA.

 Interested property owners can call 225-382-1464 or email fema-ia-dhops@fema.dhs.gov.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

o The deadline for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is October 14, 2016 for residents of all declared parishes.

o Disaster Unemployment Assistance: www.laworks.net or call 866-783-5567

Disaster Recovery Centers

o 18 Disaster Recovery Centers are now open in the following parishes:

Acadia (1), Ascension (1), East Baton Rouge (6), Iberia (1), Lafayette (1), Livingston (2), St. Helena (1), St. James (1), St. Landry (1), Tangipahoa (2) and Vermilion (1)

o Five Mobile DRCs are open in East Baton Rouge (1), Evangeline (1) and Livingston (3) parishes.

o Total: 23

To find the nearest Disaster Recovery Center, log on with any computer, smartphone or tablet to the disaster recovery center locator at asd.fema.gov/inter/locator or use the FEMA app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

 Resources for Disaster Survivors

 Housing, Food, Shelter

o 2-1-1 is a single access point for resources like food, clothing, shelter, financial assistance and health resources. Visit www.Louisiana211.org or follow @211Louisiana on Twitter.

o Go online to www.FoodPantries.org/st/louisiana to see a database of statewide food banks.

o Rental properties available: www.LaHousingsearch.com.

o Airbnb has also posted homes available to disaster survivors. To assist survivors, Airbnb is waiving certain fees and offering some houses at no

cost. More information at: https://www.AirBnB.com/disaster/luisianaflooding.

 Legal Assistance

o Louisiana Legal Services provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents. For more information visit LouisianaLawHelp.org.

 Volunteer information

o Volunteer and donation opportunities are available at VolunteerLouisiana.gov. You may email 2016FloodDonations@gmail.com to coordinate

Mitigation—Building back stronger