FEMA BENEFITS FOR HOMELESS HURRICANE KATRINA VICTIMS

If I was homeless before Hurricane Katrina, should I apply for FEMA?

Yes. You could be eligible for housing assistance, help with replacing personal property, and other special needs help.

How do I apply?

Call 1-800-621-3362 or apply online at www.fema.gov. Once you have applied you can go to any FEMA disaster recovery center to check on your application. Deadline to apply is March 11, 2006.

What kind of housing assistance can I get?

If you were paying rent in a homeless program, you may be eligible for money from FEMA to pay rent for a new house. If you were living in a homeless shelter or you are homeless but getting help from a homeless agency, you could get a special housing voucher good for up to 18 months under the Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program (KDHAP).

What are the benefits of a KDHAP voucher?

You can get rental assistance through the voucher for at least 18 months. The Housing Authority pays your security deposit, your utility deposit, and helps you find housing. If you are staying out of the area you want to live in, the Housing Authority must pay your transportation costs and temporary housing costs while you are looking for a house. Not every Housing Authority is participating in the program.

How can I find out more about the Katrina Disaster Vouchers?

Call HUD at 1-866-373-9509 or go to your local Housing Authority. But you must register with FEMA first before you can be considered for a voucher.

What if I am denied the KDHAP voucher or other FEMA benefits?

You can file an appeal with FEMA. You may want to call your local legal aid office for help with filing an appeal.

Disaster Legal Project, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, 1-877-521-6242