If Your Home is Uninhabitable, FEMA Rental Assistance May be an Option

Springfield, Ill. – December 11, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — While survivors of the Nov. 17 Illinois tornadoes are making repairs to or rebuilding their homes, assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may be available to help pay for a warm, clean and safe place to stay during the cold winter months ahead.

• First, file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance company. Talk to your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance agent about additional living expenses (ALE) coverage as part of your policy to assist with relocating to a temporary residence.
• Register for FEMA assistance. If you’re insured, you will need to submit your settlement documents for review before FEMA can determine your eligibility status. If your policy does not include ALE, or you exhaust this coverage and your home remains uninhabitable, you may be eligible for rental assistance from FEMA.
• An inspector may arrange a visit to your damaged home or apartment to determine eligible losses. If the inspector determines your home is uninhabitable, you will be offered an option of initial rental assistance to help you relocate. Once exhausted, additional relocation assistance may be available on an as needed basis.
• Find an available rental property in your area through online resources such as Nestrent.com or IlHousingSearch.org. Survivors can also call 800-621-FEMA (3362) for recommendations on available rental properties, or to ask questions about temporary rental assistance.

Survivors can register for federal disaster assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet by using the FEMA app or going to m.fema.gov. People may also call 800-621-FEMA or TTY 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362.

For the latest information on Illinois’ recovery from the Nov. 17 storms, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4157. Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, facebook.com/fema and youtube.com/fema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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. Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funding for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

Media Contact: Don Jacks, 304-542-6258