Housing Survivors of Major Disasters

Summary#

This bill changes how FEMA decides who can get housing help after a major disaster. It directs FEMA to consider an individual or household as having "constructive ownership" of a pre-disaster primary residence when evidence shows it is more likely than not that they are the owner. The bill defines "constructive ownership" for the purposes of section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act as the residence being owner-occupied.

The bill lists types of evidence FEMA must consider, including deed or title, mortgage documents, mobile home title, property tax receipts, wills or death and birth certificates where those create automatic ownership transfer, homeowners insurance, home purchase contracts, repair receipts within five years, court documents, letters from mobile home park owners or public offices, notices of Federal benefits, student loan documents, and other documentation the President allows. If documents are insufficient, FEMA may require a declarative statement signed under penalty of perjury explaining why the person is the constructive owner. The bill forbids requiring notarization of that declarative statement.

The bill also amends the Stafford Act repair and rebuilding language: it replaces the phrase "rendered uninhabitable" with "damaged by a major disaster" in one provision. It revises a paragraph to allow housing assistance if the President determines such assistance is a cost-effective alternative to other housing solutions, including costs of temporary housing. The bill removes certain two-year timing limits in a pilot-program clause. The changes apply only to applications and amounts appropriated on or after the date of enactment. A separate provision says budgetary effects will be determined by reference to a House Budget Committee statement submitted before the vote, for PAYGO purposes.

What it means for you#

• People without formal title may be able to use many types of documents to show they likely owned or occupied a home before a disaster.
• If documents are lacking, a signed statement under penalty of perjury can be used; FEMA may not require notarization of that statement.
• Housing repair or rebuilding help may be available for homes "damaged by a major disaster," not only those "rendered uninhabitable."
• FEMA will consider whether repair or rebuilding grants are a cost-effective alternative to temporary housing before providing that assistance.
• The changes only apply to applications and funds on or after the bill's enactment.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on specific dollar amounts or estimated costs appears in the bill text. The bill says budgetary effects will be determined by a statement from the House Budget Committee submitted prior to the vote for PAYGO compliance.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.