Housing Assistance
To be eligible for housing assistance from FEMA, evacuees from a declared national disaster must first register online or by phone.
If you change your address or your contact phone numbers, to avoid delays, you should promptly update your registration information. Remember to also update your current mailing address with the U.S. Postal Service online, by phone or in person.
Temporary Housing
- If you move to a shelter, use your shelter address as your current mailing address. This is extremely important for tracking and providing FEMA assistance to you quickly.
- To update your current mailing address go to www.usps.com, call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777), or go to the nearest post office and complete a change-of-address form. The form can be mailed or given to a postal retail associate at the counter.
- Find additional shelter information (Source: Katrina Recovery government website).
Transitional Housing Assistance Program
Find more information on an initial payment being provided by FEMA and HUD for your immediate housing needs.
Locate Available Rental Properties
You have your choice of several options to locate temporary housing for you and your family.
- Go to a temporary FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in your area and ask about housing,
- Call the FEMA Hotline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) to ask for special programs in your area. (TTY line 1-800-462-7585),
- Ask about your eligibility for a trailer or mobile home in your area through Direct Housing Assistance.
- Go online to Disaster Housing Resources to search for apartment housing online,
- Go online to the new Government Housing Resources for information about rentals and homes to purchase from HUD, Fannie Mae, VA, and USDA for Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees.
- Use local newspapers or referrals to find housing that fits your budget.
Home Repair and Replacement Programs
Special Home Purchase Option
US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is selling homes across the nation to eligible disaster victims.
Disaster Assistance
Learn about the assistance that is available to help you repair and rebuild your home, repair or replace household items, and pay for other related expenses.
SBA Disaster Loans
Homeowners as well as small business owners may qualify for low-interest loans to help rebuild or repair their homes or businesses and repair or replace uninsured or underinsured flood damaged personal property. Renters may qualify for loans to repair or replace personal property.
Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 13:14:09 EDT