Survivors Can Help Avoid Delays in the Manufactured Housing Unit Process

BATON ROUGE, La. –Louisiana disaster survivors who are eligible for Manufactured Housing Units (MHUs) can help FEMA make the process go as smoothly as possible.

If you’re eligible for an MHU, FEMA will contact you to schedule a site inspection if you want to place a unit on your property. Keep in mind the following steps to avoid slowing the process:                    

  • Be available. You must be present for a site inspection. FEMA will arrange to place an MHU on your property if the agency determines it is feasible. A FEMA representative will provide information during the inspection process so you can contact them if you have questions about the status of your MHU.
  • Contact your power company to install a second service and meter on your property. Your parish or city will then inspect the installation and notify the power company that power may be turned on. Tell the power company it is for a FEMA MHU installation.
  • Help FEMA obtain right-of-entry from your neighbors. FEMA may need permission to trench utility lines or gain access to the site.

If defects are discovered in the air-conditioner, water, lighting, toilets or other parts of the unit, FEMA must repair them before turning over the keys to you. FEMA will also arrange for safety modifications such as elevation and anchoring.

MHUs are a last resort for survivors whose primary home is uninhabitable, have uninsured housing needs, and have no practicable temporary housing options within a reasonable commuting distance.  

FEMA has expanded its services to accommodate your questions about MHUs. Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use TTY, call 800-462-7585. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service, call 800-621-3362. You may also visit their closest disaster recovery center by going online to fema.gov/drc or by calling the FEMA helpline.

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Survivors Can Help Avoid Delays in the Manufactured Housing Unit Process

Temporary Housing Assistance One Year After the 2013 Colorado Floods

DENVER – It’s been one full year since historic flooding forced many Colorado residents from their homes. As the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues partnering with the State of Colorado on recovery, here is an overview of temporary housing assistance that is still in progress while survivors get back on their feet.

At peak, 47 households were licensed into 54 Manufactured Housing Units (MHUs). Many of those households that required assistance have since returned to their repaired homes. Others have found new homes as more rental properties are becoming available in Colorado. A total of 27 households have vacated 31 MHUs. Twenty-seven MHUs have been deactivated.

As of September 4, 2014, 24 MHUs are still providing shelter to 20 surviving households.  Those MHUs are located in five commercial parks.

FEMA’s direct housing program provides temporary housing in cases when no housing stock is available in the aftermath of a disaster. FEMA MHUs serve as a short-term residence while households make repairs to the damaged home or seek an alternative property to purchase or rent. Recertification specialists meet with residents each month to provide assistance and document progress toward a permanent housing plan. These meetings will continue for MHU occupants through the end of the housing mission.

The housing mission in Colorado can last up to 18 months from the date of the disaster declaration, but individuals are expected to work towards their permanent housing plan on a monthly basis and most will have succeeded in achieving those plans well before the 18 month deadline. 

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Temporary Housing Assistance One Year After the 2013 Colorado Floods