Survivors with Ongoing Housing Needs Should Stay in Touch with FEMA

New York – The Federal Emergency Management Agency understands that some Hurricane Sandy survivors may need additional temporary rental assistance to help them achieve their permanent housing goals.

All applicants who received temporary rental assistance from FEMA were mailed a “Declaration for Continuing Need for Rental Assistance” letter.

This form is mailed 15 days after applicants receive their initial rental assistance grant and explains how to request additional temporary rental assistance from FEMA.

To receive additional temporary rental assistance as quickly as possible, applicants must:

• Complete the form with all the applicable information and mail it back to FEMA at the address printed on the form.
• Applicants will need to provide information of both pre-disaster and current expenses that are applicable to their households such as pay-stubs to verify income.
• They also must provide a copy of their lease and the name and phone number of their landlord.  
• Applicants who don’t have the form should contact FEMA’s toll-free Help Line

800-621-FEMA (3362).

FEMA expects all families who receive temporary rental assistance to return to their damaged home when it is repaired or to locate and occupy affordable housing without FEMA rental assistance at their earliest opportunity. 

However, FEMA also recognizes this is a difficult time for Hurricane Sandy survivors and that some families need additional temporary assistance to assist them in their recovery. 

Survivors should not hesitate to contact the FEMA Help Line 800-621-FEMA (3362) with any questions or concerns regarding temporary rental assistance from FEMA.                                                                                                          

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, http://twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog