Butte County Recovers-The official website for Butte County disaster response and recovery

FAQ Topic: FEMA Housing FAQs

What can a survivor do if other members of their household applied for and received FEMA assistance, but he/she was found ineligible?

The living situation prior to the disaster is the living situation that is expected to be post disaster within the program confines. FEMA accepts one application per household. A roommate or boarder can obtain temporary housing assistance separate from the household, if they can demonstrate a commercial relationship OR a formal agreement. The survivor will … Continued

If insurance didn’t cover all of the survivor’s losses or essential items; how can FEMA help him/her?

FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program can help offset the cost of a funeral, medical, dental, automobile repair and other needs that may not be covered under insurance. Also, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the primary source of disaster recovery funds, excluding insurance, by offering low-interest disaster loans to businesses, private nonprofit organizations, … Continued

If a survivor doesn’t have housing resources available at the end of his/her FEMA assistance period, how can they get help?

Survivors should work with FEMA case managers for solutions. From the moment survivors takes occupancy of a THU, Recertification Advisers work with them to create a personal recovery plan and identify the steps needed to reach their goals (ex: rebuild, relocation, etc.). FEMA Recertification Advisors also work one-on-one with survivors to link them with federal, … Continued

How does FEMA select who is eligible for FEMA housing as it becomes available?

As stated in the Stafford Act, all FEMA disaster assistance is provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. FEMA’s primary goal is to help survivors find safe, secure, and sustainable housing FEMA gives preference to survivors who … Continued

When will the temporary housing communities open? Where are the sites located? How many individual sites are available?

FEMA projects nearly 1,000 Temporary Housing Units (THUs) as part of the housing mission for survivors of the 2018 California wildfires. That includes: Nearly 600 THUs in FEMA temporary housing communities (522 Manufactured Housing Units [MHU] and 61 travel trailers.) 371 units placed on pads leased by FEMA in commercial sites outside the burn area. 14 units are … Continued

Why is FEMA’s temporary housing mission slow to assist Camp Fire survivors?

FEMA embarks on a housing mission only after every other housing option has been reviewed and exhausted. In Butte County: FEMA’s primary goal is to help survivors find safe, secure, and sustainable housing. There are no unoccupied, readily available sites for temporary housing communities; therefore, the sites must be constructed, which includes pouring the foundation … Continued

What resources are available to survivors when it comes to food assistance?

FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program does not provide food assistance. Persons affected by a disaster and who need food assistance can apply for benefits through the CalFresh Program. For information, call 877-847-3663 or visit benefitscal.org. For more CalFresh information, visit the California Department of Social Services website.

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