Survivors of the severe storms that struck eight Arkansas counties May 24-27 may be eligible for extended temporary rental assistance, including a security deposit.
Continued Temporary Rental Assistance through FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program is available to storm survivors in Baxter, Benton, Boone, Fulton, Greene, Madison, Marion and Randolph counties.
FEMA can help eligible survivors who are still unable to live in their home and need to extend their stay in FEMA-supported temporary housing. FEMA will work closely with survivors to understand their temporary housing needs and connect them with additional resources to help them more fully recover.
The assistance includes essential utilities such as electricity and water, but not cable or internet. The approved rental amount will be based on fair market rates set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
You may get Continued Temporary Rental Assistance if you:
- Were awarded Rental Assistance and can show you used this money to pay for temporary housing,
- Can’t return to your home because it is not safe to live in or is no longer available to you,
- Can’t afford to pay for temporary housing and aren’t receiving help from other housing programs or voluntary agencies, and
- Establish a Permanent Housing Plan and continue to show you are working toward meeting your goal.
A Permanent Housing Plan is your plan to return to your home or find a new home you can afford. When you apply for Continued Temporary Rental Assistance, you will be asked to select the Permanent Housing Plan listed on the application that best describes your situation. Later, if you are still getting help from FEMA to pay for temporary housing, FEMA will ask if you’re making progress toward your plan. You will need to send documents such as contractor estimates or building permits that show your progress.
If you continue to meet all eligibility criteria and send the necessary documents to FEMA, you can get help to pay for your temporary rental for up to 18 months from May 30, the date the disaster was declared.
To apply for Continued Temporary Rental Assistance for the first time:
- If you are a renter, contact FEMA and ask for a Declaration of Continuing Need for Rental Assistance.
- If you are a homeowner, the document is normally mailed to the rental-assistance recipient 15 days after the grant is approved.
Complete the application for Continued Temporary Rental Assistance and return the form to FEMA along with the following supporting documents:
- A copy of your current lease or rental agreement. The lease or rental agreement must include the location of the rental unit, amount of rent, length of lease, number of occupants, and signatures of the landlord and tenant,
- Documents showing your prior Rental Assistance was used for temporary housing, like rent and utility receipts,
- Documents showing current income for all members of your household 18 years and older, and
- Documents showing current housing costs for your pre-disaster home only if you are still responsible for those costs. For example, a homeowner may still be paying a mortgage, insurance, or some utilities for their pre-disaster home.
You can send your application for Continued Temporary Rental Assistance and supporting documents to FEMA by:
- Uploading to your disaster assistance account at DisasterAssistance.gov.
- Mailing to FEMA, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055.
- Faxing to 1-800-827-8112.
- Visiting a Disaster Recovery Center, if available.
To apply for FEMA disaster assistance, call toll-free 800-621-3362, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA App or visit a Disaster Recovery Center. The phone line is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. CT, and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service such as VRS, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service. The deadline for applications is August 28, 2024.
If you need a reasonable accommodation or sign language interpreter, please call FEMA’s Civil Rights Resource Line: 833-285-7448 (press 2 for Spanish). Line is open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT.
For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4788. Follow the FEMA Region 6 X account at X.com/FEMARegion6 or on Facebook at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/.