It is important that if you have not already registered for FEMA Disaster Assistance, you do so online at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/
Housing
Last week, Governor Edwards released a comprehensive housing plan that includes the following housing options for individuals impacted by the flood.
Transitional Shelter Assistance (TSA)
Transitional Shelter Assistance, or TSA, is a temporary program for survivors displaced from their primary residence that allows eligible individuals to select from a list of partner hotel rooms.
Who is eligible?
If you were displaced due to the floods, are registered with FEMA and selected one of the locations listed below, you may be eligible for help from the TSA program:
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Living in a car
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Living in a hotel/motel
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Living in a mass shelter
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Living at your place of employment
How does it work?
Once you register with FEMA and are eligible, FEMA will automatically call you over the next several days. This FEMA call will be a recorded message telling you that you are eligible and referring you to a website where you will find a list of hotels with available rooms. You can also call the hotel where you would like to stay to arrange a room. Upon your arrival and check-in, you will provide your registration number and a government-issued ID. Rooms are directly paid through FEMA.
FEMA will contact you throughout your stay to assist you with your future housing plans. Your case will be managed on an individual basis to determine, for example, whether you have received your Individual Assistance money from FEMA and have been provided available rental resources that would lead to a more permanent housing solution.
Louisiana Housing Corporation- Renting a House/Condo/Apartment
What is this?
The Louisiana Housing Corporation, or LHC, hosts a website where displaced individuals can go to find a rental property available immediately in their area. We are also asking property owners to please go to this site and list their available rental property. It is also encouraged that property owners list their property for less than the typical one-year lease, and to consider leasing for a month, or month-to-month basis, etc.
Who is eligible?
While anyone can use this website, we are urging displaced individuals from the August flooding to go to this website because they can find immediate housing here that will help them move out of shelters. Individuals can use their own private funds, a Section 8 Housing voucher that they already have, or can take advantage of FEMA Individual Assistance money to pay for the monthly rental of these units.
How does it work?
Go to http://www.lahousingsearch.org/. You may search by location and select the appropriate price range. You may also select “List a Rental” and enter information about a property unit you have available for rent.
Interim Housing Assistance
FEMA is offering additional types of housing assistance to eligible FEMA registrants, including:
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Mobile homes (MHU’s) for up to 18 months; and
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Multi-Family Lease and Repair Program (MFLRP): Housing for up to 18 months in multifamily housing units (apartments) leased by FEMA and repaired or improved using FEMA financial assistance.
Who is eligible?
Apply for FEMA disaster assistance at 1-800-621-FEMA or https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ to be considered for eligibility. To remain eligible to stay in a mobile home (MHU) or in an MFLRP property, applicants must demonstrate a continued housing need and show progress toward a permanent housing solution. FEMA may provide these housing options for up to 18 months following a disaster declaration. In extraordinary circumstances, the State may request an extension.
Shelter at Home Program
What is the Shelter at Home Program?
The Shelter at Home Program will enable eligible individuals or families whose homes were damaged in the August flooding to take shelter in their own homes while they rebuild, instead of having to stay in a hotel, rental or mass shelter.
How Does It Work?
The program evaluates each applicant’s home and if up to $15,000 of work in that home can create a safe, secure, habitable place for the family to live while they continue their permanent home rebuilding, then that applicant may be eligible for this program. Very basic initial work will include items such as gutting out the house, basic electrical restoration, installing a basic water heater, removing wet wall insulation, and providing up to $500 in basic cooking or refrigerating appliances. This work will be provided at no out-of-pocket cost to the eligible homeowner. This assistance is independent of and will not affect the determination of any Individual Assistance grant from FEMA. This essential emergency cleanup and minor repairs will help families get a jumpstart on their full recovery and allow them to live in a portion of their home while they continue to finish the big task of making permanent repairs to their home.
What Kind of Property is Eligible?
Single-family owner-occupied properties are eligible if up to $15,000 in repairs provided by the Shelter at Home program will allow residents to quickly and safely shelter in their own home. Only properties that meet these criteria are eligible to participate in the program. Each individual property will be inspected on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the property is eligible for this program.
Who Should Apply for This Program?
Many families are desperately ready to get back into their homes, but their residences are not environmentally safe or habitable yet. If you want to get back to your home as quickly as possible and would rather stay there than at a shelter, rental apartment or hotel room, this program may be for you.
NOTE: You do not have to be registered with FEMA in order to take advantage of this program. All people interested in this program must apply individually (separately from registering with FEMA or SBA or filing a flood insurance claim with NFIP).
Where Can I Apply or Find More Information on this Program?
Call 1-800-927-0216 or visit https://shelterathome.la.gov/ to apply for this program.
Nutrition
Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Program
The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services has received approval from the Federal Food and Nutrition Service for additional ZIP codes in previously approved Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) parishes.
Regular SNAP households DO NOT need to apply for DSNAP. Impacted households that receive regular SNAP benefits in the DSNAP parishes will have additional SNAP benefits added to their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards if they are not already receiving the maximum allotment for their household size.
The following locations will be open Monday, August 29, through Saturday, September 3, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Ascension Parish
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Lamar Dixon Expo Center, 9039 S. St. Landry Avenue, Gonzales
East Baton Rouge Parish
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Council on Aging Capital City Event Center, 6955 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge
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F. G. Clark Activity Center, 798 Harding Blvd, Baton Rouge
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Gloryland Baptist Church, 6745 Greenwell Springs Road, Baton Rouge
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Louisiana Leadership Institute, 5763 Hooper Road, Baton Rouge
To minimize wait times, applicants and anyone who pre-registered for benefits must go to the DSNAP location on the day indicated by the first letter of their last name.
Monday, August 29: A-D
Tuesday, August 30: E-K
Wednesday, August 31: L-R
Thursday, September 1: S-Z
Friday, September 2: A-K applicants unable to make prior scheduled day
Saturday, September 3: L-Z applicants unable to make prior scheduled day
To further expedite the application process, residents in affected areas are asked to pre-register for DSNAP Benefits. Residents can pre-register online at www.dcfs.la.gov/preregister or by phone at 1-888-524-3578.
For More Information
My office is available to help you through this difficult time. We will continue to work with the federal government to ensure victims of this disaster receive the help they need. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office at 504-288-3777.
Please share this email with friends and family who may be in need of this information. They can also sign up to receive email updates from my office.
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