Direct Temporary Housing Assistance in Iowa

Direct Temporary Housing Assistance in Iowa

As a result of the March flooding in Iowa, rental resources are not available in some communities for displaced residents. Based upon the needs identified by the State of Iowa, FEMA is providing Direct Temporary Housing Assistance in Fremont and Mills counties.

Direct Temporary Housing Assistance includes manufactured housing units (MHUs) or recreational vehicles (RVs), that may be placed on private or commercial sites.

FEMA will contact households that may qualify for housing assistance to conduct a pre-placement interview to determine whether the applicant needs direct housing and, if so, what type of housing. This determination is based on the size and needs of the household, including any household members with disabilities or other access or functional needs.

FEMA may offer Direct Temporary Housing Assistance to eligible applicants by the following housing types:

MHUs are manufactured homes or other readily fabricated dwellings (e.g., a pre-fabricated dwelling) owned by FEMA and provided to eligible applicants for use as temporary housing for a limited time.

• Furnished MHUs, ranging from one-to-three bedroom units, are provided based on the applicant's pre-disaster household composition.
• MHUs are built to Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards for eligible disaster survivors with access and functional needs and provide ramps, platform steps or other reasonable accommodation to accommodate survivors' accessibility needs.
• MHUs may be placed on a private site, such as the eligible applicant's private property or a pre-existing commercial park as local and state building codes allow.

-More-

Direct Temporary Housing Assistance in Iowa-Page 2

RVs also come fully furnished and can be placed on private or commercial property, as long as state and local building codes allow.

To be considered for placement of a housing unit, Iowa residents in Mills and Fremont counties who sustained losses from the March storms and flooding must register with FEMA and stay in touch to make sure FEMA has up-to-date contact information.

Registration is quick and easy.

• Go online to www.disasterassistance.gov/.
• Call the FEMAHelpline at 800-621-3362 for voice/711/video relay service. If you are deaf, or low hearing or have a speech disability and use TTY, call 800-462-7585. The Helpline hours are: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CDT, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.
• Use a smartphone to download the FEMA app at www.fema.gov/mobile-app and register.

Once a site is determined feasible, FEMA will issue a work order to have a unit delivered and installed at the site. The installation process includes:

• Placement.
• Anchoring of the unit.
• Utilities hookup.
• Compliance with local permitting.

The State of Iowa and FEMA are coordinating with municipalities and counties regarding local ordinances, permitting, zoning, transportation requirements, setbacks, utility connections and inspections.

Once installation of the unit is completed, FEMA will inspect the unit. When the unit passes the inspection, it is ready for occupancy. At that point, the applicant will sign a licensed-in agreement with FEMA to occupy the unit.

All occupants of temporary housing units must agree to comply with FEMA's rules, terms, and conditions for occupying the housing unit before moving in by signing a Temporary Housing Agreement or Revocable License. For occupants to remain in the unit, they must:

• Demonstrate a continued housing assistance need.
• Actively participate in the FEMA recertification process.
• Show progress toward achieving a permanent housing plan.
• Adhere to FEMA's rules, terms and conditions and the rules, laws, and regulations of the site and jurisdiction where the MHU or RV is located.

FEMA may provide Direct Temporary Housing Assistance for up to 18 months from the date of the declaration when adequate, alternate housing is unavailable, and the occupants cannot fulfill their permanent housing plan through no fault of their own.

FEMA re-evaluates occupants' eligibility on a monthly basis, and Direct Temporary Housing Assistance eligibility is subject to the occupant's continuing need for housing while working on their permanent housing plan to meet eligibility requirements.

Download as PDF

Accessible TXT