FEMA TRANSITIONAL SHELTER ASSISTANCE ENDING FOR HURRICANE GUSTAV SURVIVORS

NEW ORLEANS – The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) initiative, which provided temporary shelter in hotels/motels for eligible FEMA applicants of Hurricane Gustav who could not return home because their dwellings were damaged and unlivable, is ending on March 2, 2009. More than 12,000 families were sheltered under the TSA initiative for Hurricane Gustav.

However, even though this emergency sheltering initiative is ending, FEMA may assist eligible families who have been unable to locate a rental resource beyond March 2.  FEMA can provide continued hotel assistance through FEMA’s Temporary Housing Program.
FEMA has reached out to each of the roughly 700 families remaining in hotels to provide information, resources and referrals.  For those whom FEMA has successfully contacted, assistance can continue to be paid directly to the hotel on their behalf up to the maximum amount of financial assistance allowable by law.  FEMA will continue to work with each of the families who are eligible for FEMA temporary housing assistance as they work to establish longer-term housing solutions.  The majority of eligible families, remaining in hotels, have already received two months rental assistance. 
Applicants who have not responded to repeated FEMA outreach attempts are encouraged to call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA or TTY 1-800-462-7585.  Otherwise, hotel/motel assistance could end as early as March 2, 2009.
Individuals and households who are eligible for FEMA‘s temporary housing program may receive rental assistance for longer-term temporary housing, which is available for up to 18 months beyond the date of the disaster or up to the maximum amount of financial assistance.
Transitional Sheltering Assistance for Hurricane Ike will be ending check out time on March 13, 2009.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, economic status or retaliation.  If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, you should call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or contact your State Office of Equal Rights.  If suspicious of any abuse of FEMA programs, please contact the fraud hotline at 1-800-323-8603.

FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.