If you're unlucky enough to have had to endure a hurricane, the clean-up and repair costs can be another disaster--to your finances. The federal government through the Federal Emergency Management Agency has programs to help you get back on your feet after suffering hurricane damages. Does this Spark an idea?
Direct Assistance
FEMA's direct assistance grants deal with the housing needs of hurricane survivors. These grants include funds for temporary housing and replacing an uninhabitable home. They also include money for repairs of a damaged home to make it safe, sanitary and functional again. This is where you can get money for new windows.
Housing Needs Assistance
FEMA's Housing Needs Assistance Grants can be used to repair a number of items damaged in hurricanes. According to FEMA, the covered repairs are for structural parts of your home like the roof and walls, windows, doors, floors, ceilings, cabinetry, septic or sewage systems, well or other water systems, heating systems, ventilating, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, gas, road entrances and exits to your home, re-leveling mobile homes and reconnecting utilities.
Qualifying
FEMA has set five mandatory criteria (each of which you must meet) for qualifying for housing needs assistance: (1) You have losses in an area the president has declared to be a disaster area. (2) You are either uninsured or under-insured for the damages. (3) You or someone you live with is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien. (4) The home is your primary residence and you were living there at the time of the disaster. (5) You cannot live in your home because of damage caused by the disaster.
Non-Qualifying
Some of the items that may disqualify you from receiving housing needs assistance include: You have other rent-free housing available to live in; the damaged property is a second home or vacation home; your expenses came from leaving your home as a precautionary measure and you were able to return home following the disaster; you turned down insurance payments; the losses are business losses; and you live in a designated flood hazard area but don't participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Register
You will need to register with FEMA for the grant assistance. This can be done online at www.fema.gov/assistance or you can call 1-800-621-FEMA. Calling is usually the most difficult way to get through, so FEMA recommends that you register online.
Tags: your home, Assistance FEMA, home your, Housing Needs, housing needs, housing needs assistance
