FEMA determines if applicants are eligible for housing assistance and pairs them with the best available housing solution to meet their household needs. Not everyone will be eligible; however, FEMA’s temporary housing options can provide support to survivors who qualify.
Eligibility
Applicants may be eligible for direct temporary housing if they are:
- Homeowners or renters whose home received major damage (significant structural damage that requires extensive repairs and is not safe, sanitary or functional to live in) or has been destroyed (total loss or damaged to such an extent that repair is not feasible) as a result of the Hurricane Laura (based on the FEMA inspection); and are
- Pre-disaster residents of one of the eight parishes designated for the Direct Temporary Housing program: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Grant, Jefferson Davis, Rapides, and Vernon.
If applicants meet the criteria, they will be contacted by FEMA. If they have not been contacted by FEMA to date to discuss direct temporary housing options, they should call FEMA to confirm their contact information is current. If the applicant has received a determination letter on ineligibility, they must submit an appeal to FEMA with documentation to support their claim of major home damage or a destroyed home.
The applicant’s need for housing assistance will be re-evaluated on a regular basis throughout the entire period of assistance to determine continued eligibility. To remain in the unit, all applicants must comply with the license or temporary housing agreement and occupant lease, if applicable, including demonstrating progress towards a permanent or longer-term housing plan.
Housing Options can Include:
- Transportable Temporary Housing Units – Recreational Vehicle (RV) (travel trailer) or Manufactured Housing Unit (MHU) placed on a private site, in a commercial park or group site.
- Applicants approved for an RV or MHU must sign a Revocable License and Receipt of Government Property prior to moving into the unit.
- Direct Lease – FEMA may lease existing, ready-to-occupy residential property not typically available to the general public, such as corporate apartments/homes, for use as temporary housing for eligible applicants when verified disaster-caused housing needs cannot be met with other direct temporary housing assistance options.
- Multifamily Lease and Repair – FEMA enters into a lease agreement with the owner of eligible multifamily rental properties and makes repairs in order to provide temporary housing for applicants.
- Applicants approved for Multifamily Lease and Repair or Direct Lease must sign a Temporary Housing Agreement with FEMA and an occupant lease with the property owner or landlord prior to moving into the unit.
- Rental assistance – FEMA rental assistance provides temporary financial help, so disaster survivors have somewhere to live while they make plans for permanent housing.
FEMA has expanded its services to accommodate your questions about Transportable Temporary Housing Units (TTHUs). If you were not provided a point of contact for your housing needs, you may call the FEMA Helpline and they will take down your information and forward it to the Direct Housing Department. The FEMA Helpline may be reached at 800-621-3362. If you use TTY, you may call 800-462-7585; those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should update FEMA with their specific number assigned to that service. The toll-free telephone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. To find a Disaster Recovery Center visit fema.govDRCLocator or you can call the FEMA Helpline.
For the latest information on Hurricane Laura, visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4559.