Office of Public and Indian Housing

Provide Temporary Housing and Shelter - HUD has identified vacant multi-family housing, public housing units and HUD-owned homes that could be used as temporary housing for those forced from their homes. This information has been provided to FEMA

Provide Public Housing Reserve for Disasters and Emergencies - HUD has funding available for public housing authorities to help rehabilitate damaged public housing properties through the Emergency Capital Funds and Section 8 Assistance.

Emergency Capital Funds - A set-aside for emergency capital needs resulting from natural disasters and unforeseen emergencies occurring in FY 2005 is available ($29.7 million). These funds can be used for projects that had a direct impact, and for host cities for the costs of relocating disaster victims. Public Housing Authorities must submit an application and the funds become available on a first-come first-serve basis as soon as the request is received and approved by HUD.

Section 8 Assistance - Section 8 administrative fees have been set aside for emergencies ($1.3 million) and can be used for administrative services. These funds can be used in connection with unforeseen exigencies such as federally declared disasters. This could include special administrative fees to cover costs such as transporting voucher participants in need of shelter, damage to the voucher program administrative offices, and damage to voucher program equipment or files.

Provide Assistance for Indian Tribes Directly Impacted by the Disaster - HUD will provide Indian Community Development Block Grant funding ($2.4 million, up to $425,000 per grantee) for disaster relief for Indian Tribes that had a direct impact from the disaster. Indian tribes must submit an application and the funds become available on a first-come, first-served basis as soon as the request is received and approved by HUD.

Kevin Fitzgibbons, Administrator
Eastern/Woodlands Area Office of Native American Programs
(800) 735-3239 (Chicago)