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 2/19).
Congressional Action
Although Congress passed a spending package for the remainder of FY19, the bill did not include disaster funding. A bipartisan group of 13 senators sent a letter on February 13 to congressional leadership stressing the importance of funding for communities impacted by recent disasters and urging “prompt consideration of a bipartisan and bicameral disaster supplemental.”
Although President Trump had previously suggested he would use a national emergency declaration to redirect disaster recovery money for a border wall, this possibility no longer seems likely. Several senators introduced a bill to stop him from doing so and two Florida representatives vowed that disaster money would not be jeopardized.
Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) announced plans to introduce a $3 billion agriculture-disaster-relief package for Georgia’s recovery from Hurricane Michael. The Senators’ proposal comes after Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Agricultural Commissioner Gary Black sent letters on February 14 to the state’s entire congressional delegation demanding additional disaster recovery funding.
2018 California Wildfires
State Action
Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation on February 13 providing funding for schools and local governments impacted by the Camp Fire. The following day, he met with survivors in Butte County who told him about nine people living a two-bedroom apartment and children riding by bus for an hour to get to school.
Local Perspectives and Resources
An article from the Paradise Post examines recovery efforts in Butte County 100 days after the Camp Fire, including the continuing need for housing and places for trailers and RVs.
In the wake of the destructive wildfires, a previously proposed plan to build a village of tiny homes in Chico, CA, is finally underway. The citizen-led approach is being funded through private and corporate donations of money, materials and labor. Approximately 33 homes will be built on 2.6 acres. Residents will be charged just $200 for rent, and several the homes are being set aside for those made homeless by climate-related events.
During his state-of-the-city address, Chico Mayor Randall Stone highlighted the fire’s exacerbation of the city’s need for affordable housing.
Hurricane Michael
Florida
FEMA put out a fact sheet on accessing the National Flood Insurance Program’s Increased Cost of Compliance coverage, which allows eligible residents to receive assistance for ensuring their homes are in compliance with floodplain management requirements.
Hurricane Florence
North Carolina
The need for affordable housing in Onslow County – already an issue before Hurricane Florence – has increased following the storm, as displaced families search for new homes in the area. Available rental units are severely limited.
2017 Disasters
Federal Response
HUD issued new waivers, alternative requirements, and extensions for several Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) grantees. This Federal Register notice allows Puerto Rico to use CDBG-DR funds to provide tenant-based rental assistance to households that do not meet the “displaced person” definition and that pay arrearage on taxes and insurance for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Authority. The notice also allows Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to use a limited amount of these funds for tourism campaigns.
The deadline for temporary housing assistance through FEMA’s Direct Lease program and rental assistance in Puerto Rico has been extended until September 20. About 174 households are participating in the direct lease program and an additional 281 receive rental assistance. FEMA and the Government of Puerto Rico have also opened several new Recovery Centers.
FEMA created a pilot program providing free training to local emergency managers across Puerto Rico to better prepare response capabilities. To date, FEMA instructors have offered 87 trainings to over 2,000 participants.
In a letter to Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) made public on February 14, HUD acknowledged that the recent partial government shutdown slowed its efforts to provide hurricane recovery aid to Puerto Rico and to approve pending CDBG-DR state action plans. The letter notes that the Puerto Rico Department of Housing did not submit all the necessary paperwork to access funding until January 10. Once the shutdown ended, HUD employees were able to finalize the territory’s access to the initial tranche of money.
Local Perspectives and Resources
About 76% of Puerto Rico is experiencing unusually dry conditions, forcing tens of thousands of people to ration their water. A major reservoir was damaged by Hurricane Maria and will not be back in use until May.
A new report from the City University of New York’s Center for Urban Research found that legal and financial counseling is a key factor for successful disaster recovery. Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition (DHRC) partners at Center for NYC Neighborhoods wrote an op-ed in City Limits highlighting the report and their experiences providing such counseling as part of the “Build It Back” program following Superstorm Sandy.