February 15 conference call
From FEMA Answers
On February 15, a national conference call focused on FEMA housing assistance. As the FEMA hotel/motel program ends, and as the agency prepares to transition evacuees 403 state/local government assistance programs into the 408 direct individual assistance program, questions and concerns mount.
Following are raw notes that have not been reviewed by FEMA, nor any staff for the housing organizations.
Raw Notes
Question #1: More than 700,000 households received housing assistance, such as hotel relief, a FEMA apartment, $2358 or other assistance. Why has FEMA not released guidelines for continuing assistance, as Congress directed be done by January 13? When will this guidance be released?
A: Jack Schuback (sp?) response for FEMA. There is already FEMA guidance for recertification. FEMA is working with Congress, and intends to refine this guidance soon.
The 3 basic guidelines for recertification, as follows:
1) Continuing housing need must be shown, most people have this
2) have to demonstrate use initial assistance appropriately
- in this case could be some other disaster need
- could be other need for clothes, medicine
- linient for first infusion, but for subsequent will need to show proper use
3) aggressively pursue long-term housing plan
- repairs to damaged dwelling
- relocate and find apartment
These are basic forms of recertification
Process that are using, response from Congress.
Will be refining guidance for people who are permanently relocate. Timeline for that, going refinement
Q#2 Where can you find Recert guidelines? Disaster recovery center
Cathy Fields, FEMA - Applicant guide published by FEMA. Letters that applicants get.
Q#3 Adjust to Local FMRs
For rent assistance, we do use HUD FMRs. Initial 2358 was national average, subsequent, we take into account where applicant has settled.
Q#4 City and State programs, living in these, how to get into KDHAP/DVP.
A, CF: Working hand in hand with HUD to ensure
Q#5 What is happening with March 1 deadline.
A, CF: Ensure people are eligible after March 1. K in place to pay rent subsidies that we have committed to pay. Some lease for 6-12 months. Where eligible applicants in those homes, just set up over last week-end. Looking to continue rent payments.
JS: 408 has more stringent than 403 assistance.
Q#5a will FEMA provide additional guidance for determination not done by Mar 1.
CF: If no determination, will continue on 403 assistance.
Q#6 Jan 20 memo from David Garrat for housing displaced people. How comminicating with local gov't?
CF: Weekly meetings with regional staff. Public assistance staff have had meetings too. Will field questions from regional staff, scheduled to talk next week with City of Austin.
Q#7 Got 2358 but haven't found housing with 2358? Allow some to stay in hotels?
Bruce Noss (sp?): FEMA has 800 housing locator service. Partner with DHR online, linked to fema.gov. Have field teams and DRCs in affected areas. WOrking to ID pre-disaster homeless and HUD eligible.
Michael with alces: FEMA has strong relationship with volunteer agencies, working on state and local level to help find certain assistance. VetAdmin, USDA, FnMae have listings
Q#8 How to get longer hotel time than 2/13?
A, BN: Folks with longer term housing plan, have apartment but not ready until after mar 1, trailer but not ready, special needs, case by case
Q#9 How long will FEMA have 1-on-1 interaction?
A, BN: Rental resource open until 403 transition complete. JS: Disaster help line never closes.
Q#10 Can get list of hotels still with evacuees in them?
A, BN: Privacy act prohibits ID specific applicants. Process happening through regional offices. Will look into and get back to Amrhit.
Q#11 Eligibility requirements. Can get FEMA and Missouri Emerg Mgmt Agency grants?
A: Have to consider other forms of assistance. Have to give other alternatives, i.e. insurance settlements, in many or most instances generally does not impact applicant eligibility for what already received. In case of mitigation projects, in case of buy-outs, we take in account forms of assistance, don't ask to repay rent assistance.
Q#12 Unrelated applicants, share for less than overall expenses.
A. JS: Rule of thumb, applicants assisted on household basis. Pre-disaster HH will be post-disaster HH. Made some adjustments here b/c fractured HH, some had to remain behind. Attempted to account for this. As far as shared resources after awarded assistance. Recert time, need to provide receipts with previous assistance. Comes into play in terms of as much money compared to if separate accomodations.
Q#13 Continued rent assistance dependent on job search and unemployment, what about elderly and disabled?
A, JS: Great example of learning through interaction. With regard to recert, process in place, refining to account for degree of displacement. Income and employment considering as we fine according to congress request. 3 million registrations. Putting out a heck of lot of corres. Should be no income related requests in form of letter. Could have gone out by mistake. (Amrhit gets calls about this all the time, many specific examples of assistance.) Best to link through you, be conduit, difficult to establish alternative to help line. Michael of FEMA will get back to Amrhit.
A, CF: legal decision that was made required to provide a letter to everyone who received housing assistance the requirements for recertification. Group who rec'd 2358 or any rental assistance. Where we have people on fixed incomes, with SS, that is sufficient to meet requirement. In cases where people show limit of income, nothing else will be needed.
Q#13a although mis-directed, same job search will be required for re-cert for 2358? 4th general requirement for recert?
A, CF: for further FMR assistance, need to show further need.
Q#14 NYT says 10,000 trailers in Hope, AR, because of flood-prone areas. Can place in NO?
A, JS: Have considered trailers in NO a lot, fair question. Trying to ramp up for largest housing operation ever. Not butting up against own regulations, but resistance at local level, NIMBY, local government. Flood plain is unfortunate fact of life.
Q#15 What kind of assistance for housing?
A, JS: Disaster assistance has changed due to 2002 changes to disaster relief act. Old law, were limited to one form. New law, allows more than one form of assistance, but act contains a duplication of benefits. Can give rental assistance or trailer. Pure rental assistance or trailer, usually given one or the other not both. May start with rental, move to trailer, try to accomodate. Difficult to do housing on continum basis. General rule one or other, could be converted.
Q#15a If in trailer, could later get rental assistance?
A, JS: will try to help do what is in best interest. If circumstances make sense to help change form of assistance, will try. Reality is that 1/2 way through 1st form of assistance, difficult to implement parallel assistance.
Q#16 Will FEMA help get transportation back to LA where trailer provided?
A, JS: Programs structured to get applicants back to impacted area once, no program to move goods back to pre-disaster area. Moving and storage are preventative measure.
Q#17 56 year old disabled client, only rec'd 2358, was living in back yard, pending KDHAP, doubtful if wd get KDHAP, long wait list public housing. Told falling through cracks. What to do for housing?
A, JS: General statement, in recognition of 5.5 months of doing this, no gov't assistance will match. In case like this, someone needs to stick with this person and keep trying to explore mechanisms available.
Q#18: Recert appeal process? FMRs in impacted areas?
A, CF: can't say how long recert process, how quickly can get information.
Jack, Katie, Libby, Bruce.
Next week call on distrimination based on race and disability.
