FACT SHEET: SURVIVORS LIVING IN SHELTERS HAVE MANY HOUSING OPTIONS
AVAILABLE
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20250121/fact-sheet-survivors-living-shelters-have-many-housing-options-available]


Release Date: 
November 26, 2017 

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO — Survivors who are unable to return to their
home because it is uninhabitable or inaccessible, as a result of
Hurricanes Irma and Maria, have a wide range of federal disaster
programs available to them.

	* Funded by FEMA, in cooperation with the government of Puerto Rico,
these programs are intended to reduce the number of families living in
shelters by offering disaster assistance to help them return to their
own homes or provide temporary housing.
	* Homeowners, renters, and business owners who are registered with
FEMA may be eligible for federal housing assistance. Available housing
solutions are designed to help the residents of Puerto Rico in their
recovery.
	* Disaster assistance is designed to support a safe, habitable and
functional living space and not intended to return homes and personal
belongings to pre-hurricane conditions.

FEMA INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 20, 2018. 

 

HOUSING RESOURCES PROVIDED DIRECTLY TO DISASTER SURVIVORS 

_TU HOGAR RENACE _(YOUR HOME REBORN). Managed by the government of
Puerto Rico, through this program a homeowner’s primary residence
may be eligible for, but not limited to, necessary repairs to return
the home to safe, habitable and functional conditions. Work includes
repairs to keep roofs from leaking, replacement of damaged windows and
doors, repairs to damaged walls, and water heaters. The government of
Puerto Rico will announce how survivors can participate in _Tu Hogar
Renace. _

TRANSITIONAL SHELTER ASSISTANCE (TSA). Administered by the government
of Puerto Rico and funded by FEMA, TSA allows eligible survivors to
stay in participating hotels or motels anywhere in Puerto Rico or the
Continental U.S., for the period of time specified by FEMA. To find a
participating hotel, disaster survivors should visit
DisasterAssistance.gov .

DIRECT LEASE. Vacant units are leased by FEMA and are used as
temporary housing for disaster survivors. FEMA pays the rent for these
units. Utility costs and other expenses not covered in the lease are
the responsibility of the disaster survivor. Property owners
interested in participating can email FEMA-Lease-PR@fema.dhs.gov.

MULTI-FAMILY LEASE AND REPAIR (MLR). FEMA repairs existing, vacant,
multi-family residential properties to house survivors in multi-family
residential units. Vacant units are leased by FEMA and are used as
temporary housing for disaster survivors. FEMA pays the rent for these
units. Utility costs and other expenses are the responsibility of the
disaster survivor. Property owners interested in participating can
email FEMA-MLR-PR@fema.dhs.gov.

VOLUNTARY AGENCIES LEADING AND ORGANIZING RECOVERY (VALOR). The VALOR
initiative leverages volunteer organizations within Puerto Rico to
make minor repairs to homes at no charge to the property owner.

 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO DISASTER SURVIVORS FOR HOUSING NEEDS


INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS PROGRAM (IHP). FEMA’s Individuals and
Households Program provides financial and direct services to eligible
individuals and households affected by the hurricanes who have
uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs. IHP is
not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses
caused by a disaster; it is intended to meet the survivor’s basic
needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts. (APPLICATION DEADLINE
IS MARCH 20, 2018) 

OTHER NEEDS ASSISTANCE (ONA). Financial grant for uninsured or
underinsured, disaster-related, necessary expenses and serious needs.
This may include housing related expenses other than rent, such as
repair or replacement of household appliances and furnishings,
uniforms, tools and equipment required for your job, school books and
supplies. (APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 20, 2018) 

RENTAL ASSISTANCE. FEMA will provide funds directly to disaster
survivors, who are then responsible for finding available rental
resources of their choosing. (APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 20, 2018) 

HOME REPAIRS. Financial grant to help make repairs to a primary
residence, utilities, and residential structure, including
privately-owned access routes (driveways, roads, or bridges) to a safe
and sanitary living or functioning condition. (APPLICATION DEADLINE IS
MARCH 20, 2018) 

LOW INTEREST DISASTER LOANS. The U.S. Small Business Administration,
provides low-interest, long-term disaster loans to help homeowners
repair or rebuild and renters with personal property, with
transportation, and moving and storage expenses incurred due to a
declared disaster. (APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 20, 2018) 

IMMEDIATE FORECLOSURE RELIEF_. _The U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) has granted a moratorium on foreclosures and
forbearance on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration
(FHA)-insured home mortgages for hurricane survivors. THE MORATORIUM
EXPIRES ON MARCH 9, 2018 FOR HURRICANE IRMA; ON MARCH 19, 2018 FOR
HURRICANE MARIA. 

MORTGAGE INSURANCE AND HOME REHABILITATION_. _HUD provides FHA
insurance to disaster survivors who lost their homes and who need to
rebuild or buy another home. Borrowers from participating FHA-approved
lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing, including closing
costs. (APPLICATION DEADLINE IS SEPT. 20, 2018) 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOAN PROGRAMS_. _For assistance
regarding the United States Department of Agriculture’s Single
Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program, Single Family Housing Direct
Home Loans, or Multi-Family Housing Direct Loans, www.rd.usda.gov
[http://www.rd.usda.gov] or call 787-766-5095. 

 

HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS 

DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE (DUA). Funded by FEMA and
administered by the government of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Department
of Labor, DUA provides unemployment benefits and reemployment services
to individuals who have become unemployed as a result of Hurricanes
Irma and Maria. Benefits may be available to self-employed individuals
whose businesses were impacted by the storms. (APPLICATION DEADLINE IS
JAN. 11, 2018) 

DISASTER LEGAL SERVICES (DLS). Through an agreement with the Young
Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association, DLS provides free
legal help for survivors of the hurricanes. It offers legal assistance
to low-income individuals who are unable to secure adequate legal
services to meet their disaster-related needs. (DLS IS AVAILABLE UNTIL
SEPT. 10, 2018) 

Survivors must register with FEMA before MARCH 20, 2018 to determine
their eligibility for available disaster assistance. There are a
number of ways to apply for disaster assistance:

	* Online at: www.DisasterAssistance.gov
[http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov]
	* Download the FEMA app, available for Apple, Android, and Blackberry
mobile devices. From there, click on the “Disaster Resources” tab.
Visit fema.gov/mobile-app for more information.
	* Call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711/VRS - Video Relay
Service). TDD call 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available.
(PRESS 2 for Spanish). LINES ARE OPEN 7 A.M. TO 11 P.M. DAILY. 
	* Visit a Disaster Recovery Center. To find location and hours of a
DRC near you, visit FEMA’s DRC Locator at
http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm  

###

_FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to
ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and
improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to,
recover from, and mitigate all hazards. _

_Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race,
color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English
proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been _

_discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 (voice,
711/VRS - Video Relay Service; TTY: 800-462-7585). Multilingual
operators are available (press 2 for Spanish). _

_The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the
long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged property. SBA helps
businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners
and renters, which can cover the cost of replacing lost or
disaster-damaged real estate and personal property. These disaster
loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other
recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or
organizations. _
_Follow us at: __www.fema.gov/hurricane-maria
[http://www.fema.gov/hurricane-maria]
__www.facebook.com/femapuertorico
[http://www.facebook.com/femapuertorico] __www.twitter.com/femaregion2
_ [http://www.twitter.com/femaregion2]
_The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not
endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications._