FEMA Assistance for Homeowners
FEMA aids individuals and families who have disaster caused damages to their homes as a result of a presidentially declared disaster. FEMA can provide assistance for items not covered by insurance for homeowners and renters. You cannot receive asssistance from your insurance company and FEMA for the same damage.
What FEMA Assistance Covers:
- Temporary Housing Assistance - Financial assistance to homeowners to rent a temporary place to live if the home is unlivable because of the disaster and the homeowners does not have insurance coverage for temporary housing. If no rental properties are available, a government housing unit may be provided in some areas such as a RV or trailer.
- Reimbursement for Lodging Expenses - FEMA may provide reimbursement of hotel expenses for short periods of time due to a utility outage or because the home is not reachable, if not covered by insurance or any other program.
- Home Repair - Financial assistance to homeowners to repair disaster caused damage to their primary residence, when the damage is not covered by insurance, to make the home safe, sanitary, and fit to occupy. This assistance may include money for hazard mitigation measures to help reduce the amount of damage to the home in future disasters, if those items were damaged by the disaster.
- Home Replacement - Financial assistance to homeowners to help replace their home destroyed in the disaster, when the damage is not covered by insurance.
- Permanent Housing Construction - Direct or financial assistance for the construction or repair of a home. Only available in very unique circumstances where not other housing assistance is possible.
- For storms after August 23, 2021 FEMA will provide financial assistance to applicants for the cost of a wheelchair ramp, grab bars and a paved path due to a disaster-caused disability when the items were not present in the home before the disaster.
- Also for storms after August 23, 2021 FEMA will provide financial assistance to repair real property impacted by disaster-caused mold growth.