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. FEMA will contact applicants who are eligible for an extension to notify them of their new checkout date.
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 20,000 applications. The deadline to register for this program is Oct. 15, 2016.
**This program is a partially FEMA-funded program, but survivors must register with the state. For information on this program, call 800-927-0216, email ShelterAtHome@la.gov or go to: shelterathome.la.gov/
**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.
Rental assistance totals have topped $120 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. It takes time.
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:
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.
