[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 240 (Friday, December 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75729-75730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29438]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP)-Ike
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document provides notice that the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) executed an Interagency Agreement (IAA) establishing
a grant program called ``Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP)-
Ike'' for Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. DHAP-Ike is a temporary housing
rental assistance and case management program for identified
individuals and families displaced by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. Under
the IAA, HUD acts as the servicing agency of DHAP-Ike and will begin
administration of the program effective November 1, 2008.
DATES: FEMA and HUD executed the Interagency Agreement and established
DHAP-Ike for Hurricanes Ike and Gustav on September 23, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Details about DHAP-Ike will be published by HUD in a
subsequent Federal Register Notice. In addition, a copy of the full
text of the FEMA-HUD IAA can be accessed via the FEMA Web site at
http://www.fema.gov. Other related program information on DHAP-Ike is
available on the HUD Web site at http://hud.gov/offices/pih/publications/ike.cfm. Periodic updates on DHAP-Ike will be posted on
FEMA and HUD's Web sites.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Berl D. Jones, Jr., Director,
Individual Assistance Division, Disaster Assistance Directorate,
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security,
500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472, telephone (202) 212-1000 (this
is not a toll-free number). Individuals with speech or hearing
impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free
Federal Information Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In September 2008, Hurricanes Ike and Gustav
struck the United States causing significant damage to property and the
displacement of tens of thousands of individuals and families from
their homes and communities. Under section 408 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5174,
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster housing
programs are short-term assistance programs with a limitation of 18
months, unless extended by the President.
Because HUD has the expertise in administering various Federal
housing programs, FEMA is relying on HUD's experience to design,
implement, and administer DHAP-Ike for Hurricanes Ike and Gustav in
coordination with and on behalf of FEMA. Under DHAP-Ike, HUD will
provide housing assistance, security and utility deposits, and case
management services to individuals and families displaced by Hurricane
Gustav and Ike. The local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), which
currently administer the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) and the
Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP) for Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita, will be designated by HUD to administer DHAP-Ike in their
jurisdictions. PHAs will be awarded grants from FEMA to provide rent
subsidies to eligible families for a period not to exceed 17 months
commencing November 1, 2008
[[Page 75730]]
and ending no later than March 13, 2010.
Families eligible for DHAP-Ike are those identified by FEMA who
currently receive or are eligible to receive initial and/or continued
rental assistance authorized under section 408 of the Stafford Act, 42
U.S.C. 5174, pursuant to the Presidential major disaster declarations
resulting from Hurricane Ike. FEMA will rely on the eligibility
standards established for its temporary housing program at 44 CFR
206.113 and 44 CFR 206.114 in determining who is eligible for referral
to DHAP-Ike. All eligible families wishing to participate in DHAP-Ike
must sign and execute a HUD-provided DHAP lease or addendum to their
current lease, with their landlord, which sets forth the new
obligations to receive the rental subsidy. Similarly, landlords who
agree to participate in DHAP-Ike must sign and execute a Disaster Rent
Subsidy Contract (DRSC) with the PHA outlining the new conditions and
obligations, in addition to signing a lease addendum with the tenant.
On November 1, 2008, HUD assumed the responsibilities for providing
rental assistance and case management to families identified by FEMA.
Beginning May 1, 2009, the Incremental Rent Transition (IRT) will be
implemented, under which HUD will reduce the amount of rent paid
incrementally by $50 and individuals and families are required to
contribute $50 towards their rental payment. Every month thereafter,
the individual or family's rent contribution will increase in
increments of $50, as HUD's provision is reduced by an equal amount,
until the program ends in March 2010. The program provides a hardship
waiver for the IRT if individuals and families demonstrate they cannot
afford their incremental rent increase.
No later than August 1, 2009, individuals and families whose rent
burden is less than 30 percent of their post-disaster gross income,
taking into account existing mortgages for primary residences that
remain uninhabitable, will no longer be eligible for DHAP-Ike.
Individuals and families whose rent burden and mortgage exceed 30
percent of their post-disaster income will continue to receive
assistance, subject to the IRT, through March 2010 when the program
ends. Details of the program, including descriptions of IRT, hardship
provision, and 30 percent post-disaster income determinations will be
spelled out in the Federal Register Notice and standard operating
procedures published by HUD.
The designated PHAs will also provide case management services,
which will include a needs assessment and individual development plan
(IDP) for each family. The objective of HUD case management services is
to promote self-sufficiency for the participating family.
Details about DHAP-Ike will be published by HUD in a subsequent
Federal Register Notice. In addition, a copy of the full text of the
FEMA-HUD IAA can be accessed via the FEMA Web site at http://www.fema.gov. Other related program information on DHAP-Ike is
available on the HUD Web site at http://hud.gov/offices/pih/publications/ike.cfm. Periodic updates on DHAP-Ike will be posted on
FEMA and HUD's Web sites.
Authority: Legal authority for DHAP-Ike is based on the
Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) general grant authority
under section 102(b)(2) of the Homeland Security Act, 6 U.S.C. 112,
and sections 306(a), 408(b)(1), and 426 of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), 42
U.S.C. 5149(a), 5174(b)(1), and 5189d, respectively. As a servicing
agency under a grant from FEMA, and consistent with The Economy Act
(31 U.S.C. 1535), HUD derives all authority under the program from
FEMA and any and all actions originate from FEMA's authority.
Dated: December 5, 2008.
R. David Paulison,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. E8-29438 Filed 12-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-23-P