FEMA Rental Assistance

Release Number:
036
Release Date:
December 17, 2024

FEMA may provide financial assistance to rent alternate temporary housing if you are displaced from your primary residence due to Hurricanes Debby, Helene and/or Milton.

FEMA Rental Assistance is intended to cover the monthly rent amount, which may include a security deposit, at a place other than your damaged home. Your rental can be near your job, home, school and place of worship. The assistance may include essential utilities such as gas, oil, trash, sewer, electricity, and water, but not cable or Internet.

The approved rental amount will be based on fair market rates for your area as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The initial award for Rental Assistance may cover up to two months of rent. 

To continue to be eligible for Rental Assistance, you must prove an ongoing need, which may be that suitable housing is not available or that your permanent housing plan has not been completed through no fault of your own. If you intend to seek continued assistance, you’ll need receipts to show you used the assistance for rent. Survivors should keep receipts for three years.

You may qualify for continued assistance if you:

  • Demonstrate your disaster-related financial need; and
  • Show you are developing a permanent housing plan or demonstrate progress toward one. A contractor’s estimate of repairs can point to progress.

A permanent housing plan is one that would put you back into a permanent, safe, sanitary, and functional housing within a reasonable time frame. You must continue to work toward obtaining permanent housing to remain eligible for continued Rental Assistance.

  • If your housing situation or circumstances change, it’s important to stay in contact with FEMA, as this could impact your eligibility.

If you were initially approved for Rental Assistance, an application for Continued Temporary Housing Assistance may be mailed to you 15 days after the grant is approved. If you do not receive one, please contact FEMA by calling
800-621-3362 or visiting a Disaster Recovery Center.

Return the form to FEMA by either:

  • Uploading it to your FEMA Disaster Assistance account, available online at DisasterAssistance.gov
  • Mailing the completed form to: FEMA, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055, or 
  • Faxing it to 800-827-8112.

For the latest information about Hurricane Milton recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4834. For Hurricane Helene, visit fema.gov/disaster/4828. For Hurricane Debby, visit fema.gov/disaster/4806. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.

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