Temporary Housing Assistance Available for Displaced Survivors in Mississippi

OXFORD, Miss. – Are you still sleeping on your friend’s couch every night while you work on repairs to your storm-damaged house?

Are you and the kids crammed into your in-laws’ one bedroom, one bath because your home was destroyed by the December storms?

If you were displaced by the disaster and remain unable to return home or find a new dwelling, we may be able to help.

Survivors in the five counties designated for Individual Assistance – Benton, Coahoma, Marshall, Quitman and Tippah – may be eligible for federal disaster aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It could mean an initial two months of temporary rental assistance to help pay for a clean and safe place to stay while repairs continue.

The first step is to register with FEMA by:

• Calling 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585 for those who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362 to register.
• Visiting DisasterAssistance.gov with a computer, tablet, iPhone, Android or other mobile device.

For longer-term rebuilding assistance, the U.S. Small Business Administration offers low-interest loans to qualified individuals to help with residential and business losses. Homeowners, renters and business owners may obtain information on SBA disaster loan applications by calling 800-659-2955

(or 800-877-8339 for the hard of hearing) or by visiting sba.gov. They may also apply for disaster loans at https://www.disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Both FEMA and SBA are prohibited by law from duplicating insurance benefits. But, if your insurance fell short in meeting your needs, you may be eligible for help from either or both agencies.

For more information on Mississippi’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4248 and msema.org.

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All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.