FEMA Individual Assistance is available to renters, including students and homeowners in Baxter, Benton, Boone, Fulton, Greene, Madison, Marion and Randolph counties. FEMA may be able to help you pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other needs caused by the disaster, including rent, if you are displaced because of the severe storms of May 24-27.
WHAT IS RENTAL ASSISTANCE?
FEMA Rental Assistance is money to assist disaster survivors with temporary housing assistance while they repair or rebuild their home. If you are a renter, it may provide a solution while your home is under repair or while you look for a new place to rent.
WHAT DOES RENTAL ASSISTANCE COVER?
- Rental Assistance covers temporary housing while you are unable to live in your home.
- Your rental can be a house, apartment, hotel or recreational vehicle that can keep you near your job, home, school and place of worship.
- Rental Assistance funds are for security deposits, rent and the cost of essential utilities (gas, water and electric).
- Rental Assistance can be used for short-term hotel stays while you look for a place to rent.
- Rental Assistance cannot pay for cable or internet.
HOW LONG DOES RENTAL ASSISTANCE SUPPORT ME?
- The initial grant is for one to two months on a case-by-case basis.
- You can then request extensions, three-months at a time, for up to 18 months total by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800- 621-3362.
WHAT DO I DO IF MY HOME IS NOT SAFE, SANITARY AND LIVABLE AND I NEED A PLACE TO STAY?
- If you have insurance, file a claim.
- Your insurance company will provide you with a claim settlement or denial document that you will need to provide to FEMA.
- It may take time to get this document, so file your insurance claim as soon as possible.
- Check with your insurance agent to see if your policy covers additional living expenses, which may pay for relocating to a temporary residence.
- Apply for FEMA assistance right away. The deadline for applications is August 28, 2024.
- You can apply in four ways: visit DisasterAssistance.gov; download the FEMA App; call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. CT. 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; or get a list of open Disaster Recovery Centers at fema.gov/drc if you want to meet with us in person.
- Submit your insurance claim settlement or denial documents to FEMA for review as soon as you receive them.
- If your policy does not include additional living expenses, or if you use up this coverage and you still cannot live in your home, you may be eligible for FEMA Rental Assistance.
- Document how you use your assistance.
- Keep all of your receipts for three years to show how you spent your FEMA grant money.
- If grant money is not used as outlined in your FEMA eligibility letter, you may be asked to repay your grants and could lose your eligibility for further federal assistance.
FEMA is prohibited from duplicating benefits provided by other sources for the same loss.
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 M-F 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 twitter.com/FEMARegion6 or on Facebook at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/.