# Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2021

When a major disaster like a hurricane hits, many people lose their homes or are left without proper housing. This bill makes it easier for disaster survivors to get federal money to help them rebuild or secure housing, especially focusing on people who may not have official paperwork proving they own or rent their homes.

The main change is that the bill expands who can receive disaster assistance and what that money can be used for. Specifically, it helps people who were living on a property when a disaster struck but don't have official ownership documents—a situation that's surprisingly common, particularly in areas affected by Hurricane Maria in 2017. The bill also allows disaster assistance funds to cover the costs of getting official property titles, including land surveys and fees, which is crucial for people trying to rebuild their lives. Additionally, it broadens what counts as proof that someone lived in a disaster area, accepting things like utility bills, school records, medical records, or even a simple written statement instead of requiring formal documentation.

To make this work in practice, the bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to create a simple form that people can fill out to declare they're eligible for help—and importantly, this form doesn't need to be notarized, making it more accessible. FEMA has to make this form available in Spanish and English at disaster recovery centers and online within 30 days. For people who were denied assistance in past disasters since 2017, they get at least 180 days to resubmit their applications using this new, easier process.

The bill also changes how disaster housing assistance works by allowing FEMA to focus more on helping people repair and rebuild their actual homes rather than just getting them to a "safe and sanitary" condition, and it requires a study comparing different temporary housing options to see which approaches actually work best for helping disaster survivors get back on their feet.

Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2021

Espaillat, Adriano

Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2021 This bill makes certain individuals and households eligible for housing assistance in connection with a major disaster, including Hurricane Maria of 2017. To be eligible, an individual or household must be (1) residing on property located in the area for which the major disaster was declared but does not have documented ownership rights to and is not renting such property, or (2) residing or have resided in an area for which the major disaster was declared during the designated incident period. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must consider alternative forms of proof to determine the eligibility of an individual or household for assistance. FEMA shall create and distribute a declarative form statement that applicants for assistance can use to self-certify eligibility for assistance and shall make the statement available in specified languages at all active Disaster Recovery Centers and on its website and social media. FEMA may provide financial assistance for repairs to ensure that residences are habitable during longer-term recovery and for permanent housing construction if the President determines that such assistance is a cost effective alternative to other housing solutions. FEMA shall conduct an analysis comparing the costs, benefits, and effectiveness of assistance provided under the Disaster Housing Assistance Program, including any case management services provided, with other temporary housing options provided by FEMA.