The following is a review of disaster housing recovery developments since the last edition of Memo to Members and Partners (for the article in the previous Memo, see 2/4).
Legislation and Congressional Action
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and a bi-cameral, bipartisan group of 12 Congress members from Texas sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Russ Vought requesting approval of HUD’s guidelines for Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) mitigation funds. Congress appropriated the funds for mitigation projects in February 2017, with more than $4.3 billion going to Texas. States can only begin the action plan process when HUD releases guidance in the Federal Register.
2018 California Wildfires
Federal Response
FEMA has extended registration for disaster assistance for residents in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The last day to register is now Friday, February 15.
FEMA representatives joined Cal Office of Emergency Services (OES) representatives at a Chico City Council meeting to discuss a proposed temporary housing project for Camp Fire survivors. The project involves the construction of 48 manufactured homes over four months. Survivors will be able to stay for 12 months, with the option of two six-month extensions.
Local Perspectives and Resources
The town of Paradise was forced to rescind an ordinance from December that allowed property owners to temporarily live in trailers/RVs on their properties. The decision came after federal officials threatened to withhold debris cleanup funding, citing health and safety concerns. More than 100 Camp Fire victims will be displaced, although county officials are working with the state to find land for the RVs.
The City of Chico continues to try to find solutions to the extreme housing shortage following the Camp Fire. Although the last shelter closed the week of February 4, about 50 people remain inside because they could not immediately find other stable housing. The Chico City Council is working to accelerate the production of accessory dwelling units to help address the need for affordable homes until the development of larger projects occurs.
NPR spotlights several former residents of Paradise who have chosen not to rebuild their homes in the town. “How do you rebuild an entire city from the ground up? We don't know. How long does it take? We don't know,” says local disaster relief volunteer Duane Crowder. “People have just said you know what, nuts to it, we're out of here, there's not going to be anything here.”
Hurricane Michael
Florida
Federal Response
FEMA’s Integrated Recovery Coordination (IRC) group has developed a Hurricane Michael Recovery Resources Portal to connect communities with philanthropic resources to cover the potential gap between total recovery costs and what FEMA provides.
State Action
Governor DeSantis released his state budget proposal, “A Bold Vision for a Brighter Future,” which includes $765 million for housing and job training in impacted areas. His proposal relies on $1.5 billion in federal funds for debris collection, housing, and agricultural recovery.
Local Perspectives and Resources
Online polls, voter registration records, and school enrollment all show that Bay County residents are moving away from the area. Bay County Commissioner Robert Carroll hopes that addressing the housing supply and affordability will be the first step in re-growing the population as others leave.
In Bay County, Greg Dossie and the Project Hope Coalition – Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition (DHRC) members – are bringing in 50 donated trailers for survivors ineligible for FEMA trailers. The group is working to make these trailers permanent housing options, so survivors have a place to live during the reconstruction process.
North Carolina
President Trump approved North Carolina’s request for a federal disaster declaration (DR-4412) for Hurricane Michael. The declaration makes public assistance funding available for county and municipal governments in 21 counties.
Hurricane Florence
Federal Response
FEMA reports that 571 households (1,608 people) are now living in 601 mobile homes and trailers. A total of 8,632 households have been approved for direct housing, but FEMA states only 720 required it. Those living in trailers need to provide a permanent housing plan to FEMA to remain eligible.
Local Perspectives and Resources
Disability Rights North Carolina released a report detailing unsafe and unsanitary conditions as well as “disrespectful, dismissive treatment” for Hurricane Florence survivors with disabilities. The report concluded that while emergency help for people with disabilities has improved since Hurricane Michael, North Carolina’s shortage of accessible, affordable housing led to dysfunction.
More than two dozen survivors currently living in a mobile home park in Cumberland County, NC, are once again being displaced. While the residents own their mobile homes, the owner of the land defaulted on his loan, meaning these low-income families – many of whom were displaced by both Hurricanes Matthew and Florence – will need to find housing once again. All of the mobile homes are older, cannot be moved, and consequently will likely be destroyed.
South Carolina
Officials from Horry County – where most of Hurricane Florence’s damage in South Carolina occurred – are asking federal agencies to deal directly with them instead of waiting for funding to go through the state first. Local administrators insist on the break from tradition so needs can be localized for each community.
2017 Disasters
Federal Response
Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló and HUD Secretary Ben Carson announced HUD’s authorization of the disbursement and use of $1.5 billion in CDBG-DR funding.
Local Perspectives and Resources
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Miami found Puerto Rican evacuees reported having a harder time finding jobs, housing, and transportation in Central Florida than in South Florida.
A recent NBC News article details some of the ongoing disaster recovery struggles for Puerto Rico, including delayed funding, excess supply of vacant homes in the wake of hurricane-related foreclosures, and the absence of formal property titles for many households.