Housing Resources Available for Hurricane Katrina, Rita Evacuees

No matter where a hurricane evacuee is currently living, they may be eligible for FEMA long-term housing assistance and must call FEMA immediately to register if they have not already done so at 800-621-FEMA (3362) (TTY: 1-800-462-7585).

* Rental Assistance: The predominant form of long-term housing assistance available from FEMA to hurricane evacuees is rental assistance. Most eligible evacuees who registered with FEMA have already received an initial payment of $2,358 per household, intended to pay rent costs for an apartment or home for three months. Evacuees may be eligible to receive this aid for up to 18 months after the disaster declaration and are recertified by FEMA in three-month increments.
* Housing Locator: Working with federal partners, FEMA refers hurricane evacuees who receive FEMA housing assistance to federal housing options that have been made available by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Development and Fannie Mae. Evacuees looking for more information on these and other rentals available in the Gulf Coast region and throughout the United States can call FEMA’s Housing Locator hotline at 800-762-8740 (TTY: 800-462-7585) or go online to the Disaster Housing Resource at www.dhronline.org
* HUD Assistance: Hurricane evacuees not eligible for FEMA housing assistance because they were not homeowners or renters before Hurricane Katrina or Rita may be eligible for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Disaster Voucher Program (DVP). Call FEMA’s 1-800-621-FEMA (TTY: 800-462-7585) for a referral.
* Partnering: FEMA continues to partner with state and local governments, voluntary agencies, faith-based organizations and recovery coalitions to assist with the needs that cannot be met through federal agency programs.