The NLIHC-led Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition (DHRC) convenes and supports disaster-impacted communities to ensure that federal disaster recovery efforts reach all impacted households, including the lowest-income and most marginalized people who are often the hardest-hit by disasters and have the fewest resources to recover. Learn more about the DHRC’s policy recommendations here.
Federal Response
Congress
“The Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act” (H.R. 3037), introduced by Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and Resident Commissioner Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR), was unanimously approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on July 28, thanks in large part to the advocacy of the DHRC. The bill was written with input from DHRC members and includes many of the coalition’s top disaster recovery priorities. The same bill was unanimously passed by the House of Representatives last year. Read NLIHC’s fact sheet on the bill.
Congressional leaders in the House and Senate introduced the “Reforming Disaster Recovery Act” last week to help reform America’s broken disaster housing recovery system. The bipartisan bill is a top priority for NLIHC and the Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition (DHRC). If enacted, it would permanently authorize a key disaster recovery program that provides states and communities with the long-term resources needed to rebuild affordable housing and infrastructure after a disaster. The bill also includes important safeguards and tools to help ensure that federal disaster recovery efforts reach the lowest-income and most marginalized survivors who are often hardest hit by disasters and face the longest, steepest path to recovery. For more information, check out NLIHC’s fact sheet on the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act. To learn more, see recent congressional testimony from NLIHC’s Vice President of Public Policy Sarah Saadian.
Please contact your senators and representatives and urge them to cosponsor the “Reforming Disaster Recovery Act” (S.2471, H.R. 4707) to ensure disaster resources reach households and communities more quickly and to put in place key safeguards and reforms needed to better target those with the greatest needs.
FEMA
FEMA announced on August 3 it has extended funding for emergency non-congregate sheltering in non-COVID-19 incidents through November 30, 2021. The extension does not apply to non-congregate sheltering programs that provide safe housing for individuals experiencing homelessness in hotels, motels, or other individual living arrangements during the pandemic.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA on August 4 updated its 2021 Atlantic hurricane seasonal forecast, slightly increasing expectations for the number of named storms and powerful hurricanes. Axios points out that with the country already confronting extreme heat and wildfires, an active and destructive hurricane season could overwhelm overstretched disaster response agencies’ capacity.
Advocacy
The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies is asking advocates to urge their members of Congress to support the Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion for Disasters Act (REAADI) and the Disaster Relief Medicaid Act (DRMA) – two vital pieces of legislation that reinforce the rights and needs of people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs before, during, and after disasters and emergencies. Learn more about REAADI and DRMA.