FEMA may provide Transitional Shelter Assistance (TSA) to applicants who are unable to return to their pre-disaster, primary residence because their home is either uninhabitable or inaccessible due to a Presidentially-declared disaster. TSA is intended to reduce the number of disaster survivors in shelters by transitioning survivors into short-term accommodations. TSA does not count toward an applicant’s maximum amount of assistance available under the Individuals and Households Program (IHP).
TSA may be considered when the scale and projected duration of a declared incident results in an extended displacement of disaster survivors. The state and FEMA identify areas that are inaccessible or that incurred damages that prevent disaster survivors from returning to their pre-disaster primary residence for an extended period of time.
Under TSA, disaster survivors may be eligible to stay in an approved hotel or motel for a limited period of time. FEMA directly pays the cost of the room and taxes to participating hotels and motels. The applicant is responsible for all other costs, including laundry, room service, parking, telephone, food, transportation or other services.
Individuals and households may be eligible for TSA if:
- They register with FEMA for assistance, online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by telephone at 1-800-621-3362, TTY 1-800-462-7585.
- They pass identity verification.
- Their pre-disaster primary residence is located in a geographic area that is designated for TSA and occupancy is verified.
- They are displaced from and unable to live in their pre-disaster residence.
Due to high usage of hotels/motels in the affected area, it may be difficult to locate an available participating hotel/motel. A survivor may have to travel a significant distance to locate an available room which may include searching out of state.
Individuals can search for an eligible hotel at www.femaevachotels.com or visit www.disasterassistance.gov and click on the “Transitional Sheltering Assistance Hotel Locator.”