HOW TO DOCUMENT HOME OWNERSHIP AND OCCUPANCY FOR FEMA
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240518/how-document-home-ownership-and-occupancy-fema]


Release Date: 
May 18, 2024 

OKLAHOMA CITY – As part of the disaster assistance process, FEMA
must determine ownership and occupancy of damaged primary residences.
FEMA has taken steps to make it easier for disaster survivors in
Carter, Hughes, Love, Murray, Okmulgee, Osage, Pontotoc and Washita
counties to verify ownership and occupancy after experiencing loss
from the recent severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and
flooding that began April 25.

Owners and renters must be able to prove they occupied the
disaster-damaged primary residence before receiving Housing Assistance
and some types of Other Needs Assistance. FEMA now accepts a broader
range of documentation:

OWNERSHIP

	* Homeowners may provide official documentation such as:

	* The original deed or deed of trust to the property
	* A mortgage statement or escrow analysis
	* Property tax receipt or property tax bill
	* Manufactured home certificate or title

	* In addition, FEMA will now accept a public official’s letter or
receipts for major repairs or improvements. The public official’s
statement (e.g., police chief, mayor, postmaster) must include the
name of the applicant, the address of the disaster-damaged residence,
the period of occupation and the name and telephone number of the
official providing the verification.

 

	* Survivors with heirship properties, mobile homes or travel trailers
who do not have the traditional documentation of ownership may
self-certify ownership as a last resort.
	* Homeowners with the same address from a previous disaster only need
to verify ownership one time. FEMA has also expanded the date of
eligible documents from three months to one year before the disaster.

OCCUPANCY

	* Homeowners and renters must document that they occupied the
dwelling at the time of the disaster.

	* Applicants may provide official occupancy documentation, such as:

	* Utility bills, bank or credit card statements, phone bills, etc.
	* Employer’s statement
	* Written lease agreement
	* Rent receipts
	* Public official’s statement

	* FEMA will now accept motor vehicle registration, letters from local
schools (public or private), federal or state benefit providers,
social service organizations or court documents.
	* Applicants can also use a signed statement from a commercial or
mobile home park owner, or self- certification for a mobile home or
travel trailer as a last resort.
	* If survivors have successfully verified occupancy to FEMA from a
previous disaster within a two-year period, they do not need to do it
again.

To apply for FEMA disaster assistance, go online
to DisasterAssistance.gov [http://www.disasterassistance.gov/], use
the FEMA [https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/app] app
[https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/app] for smartphones or
call 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages. If you use a
relay service, give FEMA the number for that service.

For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4776
[https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4776]. Follow the FEMA Region 6 Twitter
account at twitter.com/FEMARegion6 [https://twitter.com/FEMARegion6]
or on Facebook at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/
[https://www.facebook.com/FEMARegion6/].