Federal Response Congress Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) called on Senate leadership in a letter to take up two bills to help hurricane survivors find safe and affordable housing. The Disaster Housing Assistance Act (S.2880) requires FEMA to provide disaster housing assistance through February 2019; the Disaster Displacement Act (S.2066) provides additional Section 8 housing vouchers… Continue reading

Federal Response Congress Representative Ann Wagner’s (R-MO) bill to permanently authorize CDBG-DR has passed through committee with a vote of 53-3. The bill–including several amendments drafted in consultation with NLIHC and DHRC–will now move to the House floor.  Congressman Al Green (D-TX) acknowledged the support of these groups (at timestamp 1:13:20). Bills have been introduced… Continue reading

Federal Response Congress Eight Senators introduced the “Housing Victims of Major Disasters Act of 2018” on May 31, which will require FEMA to enter into an interagency agreement with HUD to activate the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP) as may be necessary in any of the 2017 disasters, including Hurricane Maria. This is in response to… Continue reading

Federal Response Executive On May 23, President Donald Trump increased disaster assistance funding to Puerto Rico. Federal funding for emergency power restoration was extended for 90 days, and Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP) was extended for 120 days. President Trump also offered additional disaster assistance to the US Virgin Islands, which will allow projects… Continue reading

Federal Response Congress Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) introduced a bill on May 17 requiring FEMA to stand up the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP) for survivors of Hurricanes Irma and Maria through February 2019.  Two days prior, FEMA had denied the Governor of Puerto Rico’s request to activate DHAP. The bill’s cosponsors include Senators Blumenthal… Continue reading