More than $1.3 million in temporary housing assistance provided for Mississippians
CLINTON, MS – May 12, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) –To meet the needs of survivors of the April 23-24 storms and tornadoes, the housing programs of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency are now well underway.
“The goal is to quickly help people who have a housing need as a result of these storms find a safe place to live,” said MEMA Director Mike Womack. “We’ve been working closely with our federal partners at FEMA to successfully meet that goal.”
Immediately following the president’s major disaster declaration on April 29, FEMA began providing financial support, in the form of rental assistance, to some of the more than 1,400 people who registered with FEMA. This rental assistance initially lasts for two months, but may be extended for no longer than 18 months.
MEMA and FEMA also began to place eligible disaster survivors in temporary housing units to include travel trailers and mobile homes. Currently, disaster survivors are being placed in units in Choctaw, Holmes and Yazoo counties. More people are being placed as inspections confirm the housing sites are safe and have suitable utilities.
“Where other housing options weren’t available, FEMA is providing temporary housing units,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael Bolch. “These mobile homes or travel trailers will help provide time for families to get back on their feet and eventually find a permanent place to live.”
For some disaster survivors who qualify, a Mississippi Cottage may be a permanent housing solution. MEMA will sell the cottages to tornado survivors who are financially unable to rebuild in the
disaster-designated counties of Attala, Choctaw, Holmes, Monroe, Oktibbeha, Union, Warren and Yazoo.
Cottage prices start at $351 but vary based on the size of the unit and the disaster survivor’s income.
To date, FEMA has approved more than $1.3 million in housing assistance for Mississippians. Anyone affected by the April 23-24 storms and tornadoes should register for assistance, if they haven’t already. Visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585.
For more information, contact the State Emergency Joint Information Center at 866-920-MEMA (6362), or visit us online at www.msema.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook using the keyword MSEMA.
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.
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.
