Federal Emergency Management Agency
Louisiana Integration and Recovery Office (LIRO)
1500 Main St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
LA Newsdesk: 225-339-6602
December 23, 2018
Congressional Affairs Advisory
FEMA Housing Program Deadline Extended through April 30, 2019
BATON ROUGE, La. — At the request of the state, FEMA is providing survivors of the August 2016 flood with additional time to remain in agency - provided manufactured housing units (MHUs) as they complete the final steps of their recovery.
FEMA has extended the Direct Housing Program deadline to April 30, 2019. This fourth extension will allow eligible occupants to continue to work on their permanent housing plans. Based on the May and July 2018 extension requests,the current rental rate will remain in place through April 2019.
FEMA's housing program eligibility — and continued occupancy — is determined on a monthly basis for homeowners and on a bi-weekly basis for renters. To remain eligible, occupants must show they are making continuing progress on their permanent housing plan.
At the peak of the program, there were 4633 eligible households licensed into FEMA - provided mobile homes, placed across 16 parishes. Survivors have continued to make progress in finding more permanent housing solutions. To date, 4,251 households have moved out of MHUs while only 382 households remain in units.
FEMA caseworkers continue to meet regularly with mobile home occupants to support the hard work it takes to get back into permanent housing. They routinely guide occupants to available resources and advise them on program requirements, deadlines and more so there are no surprises.
Many homeowners are also actively participating in the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program and will continue to work through their housing plans. This housing extension will allow homeowners more time to remain in their MHUs while construction is completed on their home.
FEMA officials urge occupants to complete or follow through on any requests they made ahead of this new extension.
Several Louisiana communities passed temporary zoning exemptions to permit FEMA mobile homes on private property. MHU occupants are encouraged to check with their local officials to make sure they are not in violation of local zoning ordinances.
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