STATUS: Open when a federally declared disaster makes Individual Assistance available in the affected area.

SERVICE AREA: Specific counties, cities, or other areas designated for FEMA Individual Assistance following a federally declared disaster. Clients can check whether their address is in an eligible area at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling FEMA at 1-800-621-3362.

CLIENTS SERVED: Individuals and households affected by a declared disaster who are U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or qualified aliens. Additional eligibility requirements apply. Some non-monetary disaster services, such as crisis counseling, disaster legal services, disaster case management, and certain emergency-relief programs, may be available regardless of citizenship or immigration status.

DESCRIPTION: FEMA Housing Assistance provides financial assistance and, in some cases, direct housing services to help eligible survivors with temporary housing or repairs to a damaged primary residence. Assistance is intended to help make a home safe, sanitary, and functional and generally cannot duplicate assistance received from insurance or other sources.

PROGRAMS/SERVICES:

HOUSING / EMERGENCY HOUSING

• Displacement Assistance: One-time financial assistance for short-term lodging when a disaster forces residents to leave their primary home.
• Lodging Expense Reimbursement: Reimbursement for eligible hotel, motel, or other short-term lodging expenses already paid after a disaster.
• Rental Assistance: Financial assistance to rent temporary housing when a disaster-damaged primary home cannot be safely occupied.
• Direct Temporary Housing: When activated for a specific disaster and other housing is unavailable, FEMA may provide temporary housing such as manufactured housing units, RVs, leased housing, or repaired multifamily rental units.

HOME REPAIRS / REPLACEMENT

• Home Repair Assistance: Funds to repair a disaster-damaged primary residence, utilities, and certain residential structures so they are safe, sanitary, and functional.
• Accessibility Repairs: Assistance for certain accessibility features, such as ramps or grab bars, when needed because of a disability caused by the disaster or a pre-existing disability.
• Replacement Assistance: Funds to help eligible homeowners replace a primary residence that was destroyed by the disaster.
• Hazard Mitigation: Assistance for certain improvements that reduce the risk of future disaster damage.

OTHER DISASTER NEEDS

• Serious Needs Assistance: One-time financial assistance for immediate disaster-related needs such as food, water, first aid supplies, infant supplies, personal hygiene items, or transportation fuel.
• Personal Property Assistance: Assistance for certain essential personal property damaged or destroyed by the disaster, such as appliances, clothing, or household items.
• Transportation Assistance: Assistance for disaster-damaged vehicles or other transportation needs when eligible.
• Medical / Dental Assistance: Assistance for disaster-caused medical or dental expenses.
• Child Care Assistance: Assistance with eligible disaster-related child-care expenses.
• Moving and Storage Assistance: Assistance with moving and storing essential household goods when necessary because of disaster damage.
• Clean and Removal Assistance: Assistance with certain disaster-related cleaning and removal needs, including removing contaminated or hazardous items.
• Miscellaneous Items Assistance: Assistance for certain necessary disaster-related items that don’t fall into the other categories.
• Funeral Assistance: Financial assistance for eligible funeral and burial expenses when a death is directly or indirectly caused by a federally declared disaster or emergency. May cover transportation of remains, casket/urn, burial plot or cremation niche, headstone/marker, funeral and interment services, clergy/officiant services, and certain other eligible expenses.

HOW TO APPLY: The applicant must have a qualifying disaster affecting their area. FEMA determines eligibility after the application and, when applicable, inspection of the damaged home.

• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362
• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
• In-person when Disaster Recovery Centers are opened.
• Download and apply via the FEMA mobile app
  • Android: Get it on Google Play or text ANDROID to 43362 (4FEMA).
  • iOS (iPhone/iPad): Get it on the Apple App Store or text APPLE to 43362 (4FEMA).