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1 1 (May 15, 2023)

handle is hein.crs/govelqs0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Con gressionol Research Service Inlorming the IegisIative debate since 1914 Updated May 15, 2023 FEMA's Individuals and Households Program (IHP) When a disaster occurs, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may assist individuals with their recovery through the Individual Assistance (IA) program if the President authorizes such assistance pursuant to a declaration of emergency or major disaster under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act; P.L. 93-288, as amended; codified at 42 U.S.C. §§5121 et seq.). One form of IA is the Individuals and Households Program (IHP), through which FEMA may provide financial and/or direct assistance for housing, as well as financial assistance for other needs. The IHP is authorized under Stafford Act Section 408 (42 U.S.C. §5174); FEMA's IHP regulations are codified at 44 C.F.R. §§206.101 et seq. Authouizing IA-IH P Assistance There is no threshold or trigger that automatically authorizes IA or IHP assistance. Federal assistance is intended to supplement-not supplant-the local, state, territory, or tribal government's response and recovery efforts. Thus, the governor of an affected state or territory or the chief executive of an affected tribal government must request that the President declare an emergency or major disaster authorizing IA. Using information submitted by the governor or chief executive in their major disaster declaration request, FEMA evaluates specific factors to determine whether there is a need for supplemental federal assistance to individuals (i.e., IA) (see CRS Report R47015, FEMA 's Individuals and Households Program (IHP) Implementation and Considerations for Congress, by Elizabeth M. Webster for more detail). FEMA then provides a recommendation to the President, who has sole discretion to authorize a declaration that provides IA (the declaration approval may limit the types of IA that are authorized, to include limiting assistance to the IHP or selected types of IHP assistance). IHP Categories of Assistance IHP assistance helps address the disaster-caused needs of individuals, with certain limitations. The program only covers uninsured or under-insured necessary expenses and serious needs that cannot otherwise be met; for example, the IHP may help make a home safe, sanitary, or functional, but is not designed to restore it to its pre-disaster condition. There are two categories of IHP assistance: Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance (ONA). Housing Assistance FEMA can help meet a disaster survivor's housing needs by providing financial and/or direct assistance. Financial Housing Assistance provides grant funds for temporary accommodations and/or to repair or replace a damaged primary residence. FEMA first looks to provide financial assistance before providing Direct Housing Assistance, which provides disaster survivors with a temporary place to live (see Table 1 for a list of the types of Financial and Direct Housing Assistance). The federal government pays 100% of the costs of all forms of Housing Assistance. Other Needs Assistance FEMA can also provide financial assistance to help disaster survivors with the costs of acquiring or obtaining essential items or services through ONA. The types of ONA available to an applicant will vary based on their disaster- caused needs. Some types of ONA also involve consideration of an applicant's eligibility for low-interest loans available through the Small Business Administration (SBA) (see Table 2 for a list of the types of SBA- Dependent and Non-SBA-Dependent ONA, and the description on the SBA's role, included below). States, territories, and tribes may decide to (1) administer ONA independently; (2) jointly administer ONA with FEMA; or (3) allow FEMA to administer ONA. ONA is subject to a statutorily set 75% federal and 25% nonfederal cost share, which is borne by the affected state, territory, or tribe (not the individual or household receiving ONA). Table I. Types of IHP Housing Assistance Housing Assistance: Housing Assistance: Financial Direct Lodging Expense Multi-Family Lease and Repair Reimbursement Transportable Temporary Rental Assistance Housing Units Home Repair Assistance Direct Lease Home Replacement Permanent Housing Assistance Construction Source: CRS's interpretation of Figure 5 on page 44 of FEMA's, Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide (IAPPG). Table 2. Types of IHP Other Needs Assistance (ONA) ONA: ONA: SBA-Dependenta Non-SBA-Dependentb Personal Property Assistance Funeral Assistance Transportation Assistance Medical and Dental Group Flood Insurance Policy Assistance Childcare Assistance Assistance for Miscellaneous Items Moving and Storage Assistance Critical Needs Assistance Clean and Sanitize Assistance

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