Continued Rental Assistance Available for FEMA Applicants in Eight Counties

Some residents of the eight Georgia counties listed below who have received initial FEMA rental assistance because of damage to their homes from the Jan. 12 storms and tornadoes may be eligible for continued rental assistance.

• If you are a resident of Butts, Henry, Jasper, Meriwether, Newton, Pike, Spalding or Troup County, you may qualify for continued rental assistance while you seek more permanent housing. You would need to demonstrate your storm-related financial need and show you are developing a long-term or permanent housing plan.

How to apply for continued assistance

• If you received initial rental assistance from FEMA, you may be eligible for continued rental assistance. You must call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Once you tell FEMA about your need, an “Application for Continued Temporary Housing Assistance” will be mailed to you. You must complete the form and all required pre-disaster and post-disaster documents. Include with your application:

• A copy of your pre-disaster rental lease or mortgage and a copy of your post-disaster current rental lease
• Receipts showing the proper use of federal disaster housing assistance
• Your pre-disaster and post-disaster household income
• Any pre-disaster and post-disaster household financial obligations you may have

• Sign the application and mail it along with your pre-disaster and post-disaster supporting documents to: FEMA, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055.
•  If you cannot gain entry to your home to find these documents or the originals were destroyed during the tornadoes, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Duplicates of many types of official documents may be available through your municipal government, utility company or bank.
• If you have created an account at DisasterAssistance.gov, you may upload documents to the Upload Center in your account. If you did not receive a letter advising you to contact FEMA about your continued need for rental assistance, or if you have questions, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
• Extensions on rental assistance may be granted up to 18 months from the date of the disaster declaration. In Georgia, President Biden approved the major presidential disaster declaration for the storms and tornadoes on Jan. 16, 2023.
• Your rental can be a house, apartment or recreational vehicle that can keep you near your job, home and place of worship. The assistance covers rent, security deposit and essential utilities such as electricity and water, but not cable or internet.
• The approved rental amount will be based on fair market rates for your area as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

For the latest information on Georgia’s recovery from the severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes, visit fema.gov/disaster/4685. You may also follow @GeorgiaEMAHS/Twitter, Facebook.com/GeorgiaEMAHS, @FEMARegion4/Twitter and Facebook.com/FEMA.