Des Moines, IA – October 26, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today that the Direct Housing Assistance program, which was slated to end on November 27, has been extended for a period of seven months. The program will now end on June 27, 2010.
“This extension will help those working so hard to put their lives back together, to complete the transition to their own permanent housing after the floods of 2008,” said Iowa Recovery Center Director Kay Phillips.
This extension will allow sufficient time for eligible applicants to complete repairs and reconstruction to their homes and for pre-disaster renters to secure affordable rental housing. This timeframe will also accommodate the needs of households with school-age children by allowing students to complete the current school year without interruption.
In accordance with FEMA Recovery Policy IA06-17 (“Disaster Housing Rent Collection”), rent will be assessed up to the fair market rental rate by county for each temporary housing unit that remains occupied after the original program end-date of November 27, 2009.
As of October 22, 122 families remain in the units, down from 197 on August 18, 2009. Just over a year ago (Oct. 7, 2008), 564 families were staying in the temporary units at the peak of the disaster.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
