FEMA ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR RESIDING IN
NON-TRADITIONAL HOUSING BEFORE THE DISASTER
[https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/fema-assistance-those-experiencing-homelessness-or-residing-non-traditional-housing]


Release Date: 
Nov 1, 2024 

FEMA Assistance is available to disaster survivors experiencing
homelessness or residing in non-traditional housing, such as a tent or
lean-to type of home before the disaster.

ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

FEMA may provide some forms of Other Needs Assistance to applicants
experiencing homelessness or residing in non-traditional housing
before the disaster. This may include:

		TYPE OF ASSISTANCE
		WHAT IT COVERS:

		Medical & Dental Assistance
		Lost medications
Medical/dental equipment
Treatment for a disaster-caused injury
Service animal injury or loss

		Transportation Assistance
		Disaster-caused damage to a vehicle

		Funeral Assistance
		Funeral expenses related to the disaster

		Childcare Assistance
		Increased child care expenses 

FEMA does not provide Direct Housing Assistance, Home Repair
Assistance, Home Replacement Assistance, or Continued Temporary Rental
Assistance to applicants who were experiencing homelessness or
residing in non-traditional housing before the disaster.

ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS IN NON-TRADITIONAL HOUSING

In addition to the assistance listed in the table above, applicants
residing in non-traditional housing may also be eligible for:

		TYPE OF ASSISTANCE
		WHAT IT COVERS:

		Personal Property Assistance
		Bedding, furniture, appliances, and clothing damaged or destroyed by
a disaster

		Displacement Assistance
		Short-term housing costs

To be eligible for Personal Property Assistance or Displacement
Assistance, applicants must prove they lived at the disaster-damaged
address as their primary home; FEMA calls this “proving
occupancy.” 

To prove occupancy, FEMA accepts various documentation that places the
applicant at the address at the time of the disaster, including:

	* Bills mailed to the applicant's address
	* Identification Card
	* Social Service Organization Document
	* Local School Document
	* Federal or State Benefit Document
	* Motor Vehicle Registration
	* Affidavits of Residency or Court Documentation
	* Employer's Document

If the applicant does not have access to documentation proving
occupancy, they may provide a statement from a public official, member
of tribal council, homeless outreach advocate, etc. The statement must
be written and signed, and include the applicant’s name, location of
residence, dates of occupancy, and the source’s name, title, and
contact information.

APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS

When applying for FEMA disaster assistance, the applicant may select
“Other” for residence type if they apply online. If they apply by
phone, they can explain their living situation to the FEMA
representative.

APPLY FOR FEMA INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE

	* ONLINE:  DisasterAssistance.gov
[http://www.disasterassistance.gov/] (fastest option)
	* FEMA APP: available on the Apple App Store or Google Play
	* BY PHONE: 1-800-621-3362.  If you use a relay service, such as
Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone, or other service, give
FEMA your number for that service. 

_HOMELESS is defined as an individual whose pre-disaster living
arrangements were transient in nature and void of any form of
structural ownership. Examples of homeless living situations may
include rent-free shelters, bridges, underpasses, or streets.
NON-TRADITIONAL HOUSING is defined as a form of dwelling void of
structural floor, structural walls, and structural roof._