206.117—Housing assistance.

(a) Purpose. FEMA may provide financial or direct assistance under this section to respond to the disaster-related housing needs of individuals and households.

(b) Types of housing assistance— (1) Temporary housing assistance— Eligible individuals and households may receive financial assistance to rent alternate housing resources, existing rental units, manufactured housing, recreational vehicles, or other readily fabricated dwellings. FEMA may also provide assistance for the reasonable cost of any transportation, utility hookups, or installation of a manufactured housing unit or recreational vehicle to be used for housing. This includes reimbursement for reasonable short-term lodging expenses that individuals or households incur in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

(A) FEMA will include all members of a pre-disaster household in a single registration and will provide assistance for one temporary housing residence, unless the Regional Administrator or his/her designee determines that the size or nature of the household requires that we provide assistance for more than one residence.

(B) FEMA will base the rental assistance on the Department of Housing and Urban Development's current fair market rates for existing rental units. FEMA will further base the applicable rate on the household's bedroom requirement and the location of the rental unit.

(C) All utility costs and utility security deposits are the responsibility of the occupant except where the utility does not meter utility services separately and utility services are a part of the rental charge.

(D) The occupant is responsible for all housing security deposits. In extraordinary circumstances, the Regional Administrator or his/her designee may authorize the payment of security deposits; however, the owner or occupant must reimburse the full amount of the security deposit to the Federal Government before or at the time that the temporary housing assistance ends.

(ii) Direct assistance. (A) FEMA may provide direct assistance in the form of purchased or leased temporary housing units directly to individuals or households who lack available housing resources and would be unable to make use of the assistance provided under paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section.

(B) FEMA will include all members of a pre-disaster household in a single application and will provide assistance for one temporary housing residence, unless the Regional Administrator or his/her designee determines that the size or nature of the household requires that we provide assistance for more than one residence.

(C) Any site upon which a FEMA-provided housing unit is placed must comply with applicable State and local codes and ordinances, as well as 44 CFR part 9, Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands, and 44 CFR part 10, Environmental Considerations, and all other applicable environmental laws and Executive Orders.

(D) All utility costs and utility security deposits are the responsibility of the occupant except where the utility does not meter utility services separately and utility services are a part of the rental charge.

(E) FEMA-provided or funded housing units may be placed in the following locations:

(1) A commercial site that is complete with utilities; when the Regional Administrator or his/her designee determines that the upgrading of commercial sites, or installation of utilities on such sites, will provide more cost-effective, timely and suitable temporary housing than other types of resources, then Federal assistance may be authorized for such actions.

(2) A private site that an applicant provides, complete with utilities; when the Regional Administrator or his/her designee determines that the cost of installation or repairs of essential utilities on private sites will provide more cost effective, timely, and suitable temporary housing than other types of resources, then Federal assistance may be authorized for such actions.

(3) A group site that the State or local government provides that accommodates two or more units and is complete with utilities; when the Regional Administrator or his/her designee determines that the cost of developing a group site provided by the State or local government, to include installation or repairs of essential utilities on the sites, will provide more cost effective, timely, and suitable temporary housing than other types of resources, then Federal assistance may be authorized for such actions.

(4) A group site provided by FEMA, if the Regional Administrator or his/her designee determines that such a site would be more economical or accessible than one that the State or local government provides.

(F) After the end of the 18-month period of assistance, FEMA may begin to charge up to the fair market rent rate for each temporary housing unit provided. We will base the rent charged on the number of bedrooms occupied and needed by the household. When establishing the amount of rent, FEMA will take into account the financial ability of the household.

(G) We may terminate direct assistance for reasons that include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) The period of assistance expired under § 206.110(e) and has not been extended;

(2) Adequate alternate housing is available to the occupant(s);

(3) The occupant(s) obtained housing assistance through either misrepresentation or fraud;

(4) The occupant(s) failed to comply with any term of the lease/rental agreement or other rules of the site where the unit is located.

(5) The occupant(s) does not provide evidence documenting that they are working towards a permanent housing plan.

(H) FEMA will provide a 15 day written notice when initiating the termination of direct assistance that we provide under our lease agreements. This notice will specify the reasons for termination of assistance and occupancy, the date of termination, the procedure for appealing the determination, and the occupant's liability for such additional charges as the Regional Administrator or his/her designee deems appropriate after the termination date, including fair market rent for the unit.

(I) Duplication of benefits may occur when an applicant has additional living expense insurance benefits to cover the cost of renting alternate housing. In these instances, FEMA may provide a temporary housing unit if adequate alternate housing is not available, or if doing so is in the best interest of the household and the government. We will establish fair market rent, not to exceed insurance benefits available.

(2) Repairs. (i) FEMA may provide financial assistance for the repairs of uninsured disaster-related damages to an owner's primary residence. The funds are to help return owner-occupied primary residences to a safe and sanitary living or functioning condition. Repairs may include utilities and residential infrastructure (such as private access routes, privately owned bridge, wells and/or septic systems) damaged by a major disaster.

(ii) The type of repair FEMA authorizes may vary depending upon the nature of the disaster. We may authorize repair of items where feasible or replacement when necessary to insure the safety or health of the occupant and to make the residence functional.

(iii) FEMA may also provide assistance for eligible hazard mitigation measures that reduce the likelihood of future damage to damaged residences, utilities or infrastructure.

(iv) Eligible individuals or households may receive up to $5,000 under this paragraph, adjusted annually to reflect changes in the CPI, to repair damages to their primary residence without first having to show that the assistance can be met through other means, except insurance proceeds.

(v) The individual or household is responsible for obtaining all local permits or inspections that applicable State or local building codes may require.

(3) Replacement. FEMA may provide financial assistance under this paragraph to replace the primary residence of an owner-occupied dwelling if the dwelling was damaged by the disaster and there was at least $10,000 of damage (as adjusted annually to reflect changes in the CPI). The applicant may either replace the dwelling in its entirety for $10,000 (as adjusted annually to reflect changes in the CPI) or less, or may use the assistance toward the cost of acquiring a new permanent residence that is greater in cost than $10,000 (as adjusted annually to reflect changes in the CPI). All replacement assistance awards must be individually approved by the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate. The Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate may approve replacement assistance for applicants whose damages are less than $10,000 in extraordinary circumstances where replacement assistance is more appropriate than other forms of housing assistance.

(4) Permanent housing construction. FEMA may provide financial or direct assistance to applicants for the purpose of constructing permanent housing in insular areas outside the continental United States and in other remote locations when alternative housing resources are not available and the types of financial or direct temporary housing assistance described at paragraph (b)(1) of this section are unavailable, infeasible, or not cost-effective.

(c) Eligible costs. (1) Repairs to the primary residence or replacement of items must be disaster-related and must be of average quality, size, and capacity, taking into consideration the needs of the occupant. Repairs to the primary residence are limited to restoration of the dwelling to a safe and sanitary living or functioning condition and may include:

(i) Repair or replacement of the structural components, including foundation, exterior walls, and roof;

(ii) Repair or replacement of the structure's windows and doors;

(iii) Repair or replacement of the structure's Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning System;

(iv) Repair or replacement of the structure's utilities, including electrical, plumbing, gas, water and sewage systems;

(v) Repair or replacement of the structure's interior, including floors, walls, ceilings, doors and cabinetry;

(vi) Repair to the structure's access and egress, including privately owned access road and privately owned bridge;

(vii) Blocking, leveling, and anchoring of a mobile home, and reconnecting or resetting mobile home sewer, water, electrical and fuel lines and tanks; and

(viii) Items or services determined to be eligible hazard mitigation measures.

(2) Replacement assistance, will be based on the verified disaster-related level of damage to the dwelling, or the statutory maximum, whichever is less.

(3) Permanent housing construction, in general, must be consistent with current minimal local building codes and standards where they exist, or minimal acceptable construction industry standards in the area, including reasonable hazard mitigation measures, and federal environmental laws and regulations Dwellings will be of average quality, size and capacity, taking into consideration the needs of the occupant.

Code of Federal Regulations

[67 FR 61452, Sept. 30, 2002; 67 FR 62896, Oct. 9, 2002]