§5174. Temporary housing assistance
(a) Provision of temporary housing
(1) In general
The President may-
(A) provide, by purchase or lease, temporary housing (including unoccupied habitable dwellings), suitable rental housing, mobile homes, or other readily fabricated dwellings to persons who, as a result of a major disaster, require temporary housing; and
(B) reimburse State and local governments in accordance with paragraph (4) for the cost of sites provided under paragraph (2).
(2) Mobile home site
(A) In general
Any mobile home or other readily fabricated dwelling provided under this section shall whenever possible be located on a site which-
(i) is provided by the State or local government; and
(ii) has utilities provided by the State or local government, by the owner of the site, or by the occupant who was displaced by the major disaster.
(B) Other sites
Mobile homes and other readily fabricated dwellings may be located on sites provided by the President if the President determines that such sites would be more economical or accessible than sites described in subparagraph (A).
(3) Period
Federal financial and operational assistance under this section shall continue for not longer than 18 months after the date of the major disaster declaration by the President, unless the President determines that due to extraordinary circumstances it would be in the public interest to extend such 18-month period.
(4) Federal share
The Federal share of assistance under this section shall be 100 percent; except that the Federal share of assistance under this section for construction and site development costs (including installation of utilities) at a mobile home group site shall be 75 percent of the eligible cost of such assistance. The State or local government receiving assistance under this section shall pay any cost which is not paid for from the Federal share.
(b) Temporary mortgage and rental payments
The President is authorized to provide assistance on a temporary basis in the form of mortgage or rental payments to or on behalf of individuals and families who, as a result of financial hardship caused by a major disaster, have received written notice of dispossession or eviction from a residence by reason of a foreclosure of any mortgage or lien, cancellation of any contract of sale, or termination of any lease, entered into prior to such disaster. Such assistance shall be provided for the duration of the period of financial hardship but not to exceed 18 months.
(c) In lieu expenditures
In lieu of providing other types of temporary housing after a major disaster, the President is authorized to make expenditures for the purpose of repairing or restoring to a habitable condition owner-occupied private residential structures made uninhabitable by a major disaster which are capable of being restored quickly to a habitable condition.
(d) Transfer of temporary housing
(1) Direct sale to occupants
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any temporary housing acquired by purchase may be sold directly to individuals and families who are occupants of temporary housing at prices that are fair and equitable, as determined by the President.
(2) Transfers to States, local governments, and voluntary organizations
The President may sell or otherwise make available temporary housing units directly to States, other governmental entities, and voluntary organizations. The President shall impose as a condition of transfer under this paragraph a covenant to comply with the provisions of section 5151 of this title requiring nondiscrimination in occupancy of such temporary housing units. Such disposition shall be limited to units purchased under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section and to the purposes of providing temporary housing for disaster victims in major disasters or emergencies.
(e) Notification
(1) In general
Each person who applies for assistance under this section shall be notified regarding the type and amount of any assistance for which such person qualifies. Whenever practicable, such notice shall be provided within 7 days after the date of submission of such application.
(2) Information
Notification under this subsection shall provide information regarding-
(A) all forms of such assistance available;
(B) any specific criteria which must be met to qualify for each type of assistance that is available;
(C) any limitations which apply to each type of assistance; and
(D) the address and telephone number of offices responsible for responding to-
(i) appeals of determinations of eligibility for assistance; and
(ii) requests for changes in the type or amount of assistance provided.
(f) Location
In providing assistance under this section, consideration shall be given to the location of and travel time to-
(1) the applicant's home and place of business;
(2) schools which the applicant or members of the applicant's family who reside with the applicant attend; and
(3) crops or livestock which the applicant tends in the course of any involvement in farming which provides 25 percent or more of the applicant's annual income.
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Amendment of Section
§5174. Federal assistance to individuals and households
(a) In general
(1) Provision of assistance
In accordance with this section, the President, in consultation with the Governor of a State, may provide financial assistance, and, if necessary, direct services, to individuals and households in the State who, as a direct result of a major disaster, have necessary expenses and serious needs in cases in which the individuals and households are unable to meet such expenses or needs through other means.
(2) Relationship to other assistance
Under paragraph (1), an individual or household shall not be denied assistance under paragraph (1), (3), or (4) of subsection (c) of this section solely on the basis that the individual or household has not applied for or received any loan or other financial assistance from the Small Business Administration or any other Federal agency.
(b) Housing assistance
(1) Eligibility
The President may provide financial or other assistance under this section to individuals and households to respond to the disaster-related housing needs of individuals and households who are displaced from their predisaster primary residences or whose predisaster primary residences are rendered uninhabitable as a result of damage caused by a major disaster.
(2) Determination of appropriate types of assistance
(A) In general
The President shall determine appropriate types of housing assistance to be provided under this section to individuals and households described in subsection (a)(1) of this section based on considerations of cost effectiveness, convenience to the individuals and households, and such other factors as the President may consider appropriate.
(B) Multiple types of assistance
One or more types of housing assistance may be made available under this section, based on the suitability and availability of the types of assistance, to meet the needs of individuals and households in the particular disaster situation.
(c) Types of housing assistance
(1) Temporary housing
(A) Financial assistance
(i) In general
The President may provide financial assistance to individuals or households to rent alternate housing accommodations, existing rental units, manufactured housing, recreational vehicles, or other readily fabricated dwellings.
(ii) Amount
The amount of assistance under clause (i) shall be based on the fair market rent for the accommodation provided plus the cost of any transportation, utility hookups, or unit installation not provided directly by the President.
(B) Direct assistance
(i) In general
The President may provide temporary housing units, acquired by purchase or lease, directly to individuals or households who, because of a lack of available housing resources, would be unable to make use of the assistance provided under subparagraph (A).
(ii) Period of assistance
The President may not provide direct assistance under clause (i) with respect to a major disaster after the end of the 18-month period beginning on the date of the declaration of the major disaster by the President, except that the President may extend that period if the President determines that due to extraordinary circumstances an extension would be in the public interest.
(iii) Collection of rental charges
After the end of the 18-month period referred to in clause (ii), the President may charge fair market rent for each temporary housing unit provided.
(2) Repairs
(A) In general
The President may provide financial assistance for-
(i) the repair of owner-occupied private residences, utilities, and residential infrastructure (such as a private access route) damaged by a major disaster to a safe and sanitary living or functioning condition; and
(ii) eligible hazard mitigation measures that reduce the likelihood of future damage to such residences, utilities, or infrastructure.
(B) Relationship to other assistance
A recipient of assistance provided under this paragraph shall not be required to show that the assistance can be met through other means, except insurance proceeds.
(C) Maximum amount of assistance
The amount of assistance provided to a household under this paragraph shall not exceed $5,000, as adjusted annually to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Department of Labor.
(3) Replacement
(A) In general
The President may provide financial assistance for the replacement of owner-occupied private residences damaged by a major disaster.
(B) Maximum amount of assistance
The amount of assistance provided to a household under this paragraph shall not exceed $10,000, as adjusted annually to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Department of Labor.
(C) Applicability of flood insurance requirement
With respect to assistance provided under this paragraph, the President may not waive any provision of Federal law requiring the purchase of flood insurance as a condition of the receipt of Federal disaster assistance.
(4) Permanent housing construction
The President may provide financial assistance or direct assistance to individuals or households to construct permanent housing in insular areas outside the continental United States and in other remote locations in cases in which-
(A) no alternative housing resources are available; and
(B) the types of temporary housing assistance described in paragraph (1) are unavailable, infeasible, or not cost-effective.
(d) Terms and conditions relating to housing assistance
(1) Sites
(A) In general
Any readily fabricated dwelling provided under this section shall, whenever practicable, be located on a site that-
(i) is complete with utilities; and
(ii) is provided by the State or local government, by the owner of the site, or by the occupant who was displaced by the major disaster.
(B) Sites provided by the President
A readily fabricated dwelling may be located on a site provided by the President if the President determines that such a site would be more economical or accessible.
(2) Disposal of units
(A) Sale to occupants
(i) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a temporary housing unit purchased under this section by the President for the purpose of housing disaster victims may be sold directly to the individual or household who is occupying the unit if the individual or household lacks permanent housing.
(ii) Sale price
A sale of a temporary housing unit under clause (i) shall be at a price that is fair and equitable.
(iii) Deposit of proceeds
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the proceeds of a sale under clause (i) shall be deposited in the appropriate Disaster Relief Fund account.
(iv) Hazard and flood insurance
A sale of a temporary housing unit under clause (i) shall be made on the condition that the individual or household purchasing the housing unit agrees to obtain and maintain hazard and flood insurance on the housing unit.
(v) Use of GSA services
The President may use the services of the General Services Administration to accomplish a sale under clause (i).
(B) Other methods of disposal
If not disposed of under subparagraph (A), a temporary housing unit purchased under this section by the President for the purpose of housing disaster victims-
(i) may be sold to any person; or
(ii) may be sold, transferred, donated, or otherwise made available directly to a State or other governmental entity or to a voluntary organization for the sole purpose of providing temporary housing to disaster victims in major disasters and emergencies if, as a condition of the sale, transfer, or donation, the State, other governmental agency, or voluntary organization agrees-
(I) to comply with the nondiscrimination provisions of section 5151 of this title; and
(II) to obtain and maintain hazard and flood insurance on the housing unit.
(e) Financial assistance to address other needs
(1) Medical, dental, and funeral expenses
The President, in consultation with the Governor of a State, may provide financial assistance under this section to an individual or household in the State who is adversely affected by a major disaster to meet disaster-related medical, dental, and funeral expenses.
(2) Personal property, transportation, and other expenses
The President, in consultation with the Governor of a State, may provide financial assistance under this section to an individual or household described in paragraph (1) to address personal property, transportation, and other necessary expenses or serious needs resulting from the major disaster.
(f) State role
(1) Financial assistance to address other needs
(A) Grant to State
Subject to subsection (g) of this section, a Governor may request a grant from the President to provide financial assistance to individuals and households in the State under subsection (e) of this section.
(B) Administrative costs
A State that receives a grant under subparagraph (A) may expend not more than 5 percent of the amount of the grant for the administrative costs of providing financial assistance to individuals and households in the State under subsection (e) of this section.
(2) Access to records
In providing assistance to individuals and households under this section, the President shall provide for the substantial and ongoing involvement of the States in which the individuals and households are located, including by providing to the States access to the electronic records of individuals and households receiving assistance under this section in order for the States to make available any additional State and local assistance to the individuals and households.
(g) Cost sharing
(1) Federal share
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Federal share of the costs eligible to be paid using assistance provided under this section shall be 100 percent.
(2) Financial assistance to address other needs
In the case of financial assistance provided under subsection (e) of this section-
(A) the Federal share shall be 75 percent; and
(B) the non-Federal share shall be paid from funds made available by the State.
(h) Maximum amount of assistance
(1) In general
No individual or household shall receive financial assistance greater than $25,000 under this section with respect to a single major disaster.
(2) Adjustment of limit
The limit established under paragraph (1) shall be adjusted annually to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Department of Labor.
(i) Rules and regulations
The President shall prescribe rules and regulations to carry out this section, including criteria, standards, and procedures for determining eligibility for assistance.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 5174,
A prior section 408 of
Effective Date of 2000 Amendment
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 5192, 5204c of this title.