A bill increasing the amount of reimbursement that states receive from FEMA for disaster and COVID-19 emergency measures was passed by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on September 1 by a bi-partisan voice vote. The bill, the “FEMA Assistance Relief Act of 2020” sponsored by Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, would increase the federal cost share percentage for FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Program that reimburses states for eligible measures taken during disasters such as emergency shelter, food, debris removal, and more. The program has been utilized for 2020 disasters such as the west coast wildfires as well as Hurricanes Laura and Sally, and other storms during the ongoing 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. The bill would increase the cost share percentage to 90% for actions taken during major disasters in 2020 and 100% for actions taken in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
FEMA PA has been used across the country to assist states dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to reimbursing states for PPE and temporary medical facilities, the program has also been used to reimburse states and eligible non-profits for costs associated with providing hotel rooms (i.e., “non-congregate shelter”) to individuals who have contracted COVID-19, have been exposed to COVID-19, or are at high risk from the disease and do not otherwise have a place to quarantine. Though open to anyone meeting this definition, the program has greatly aided individuals experiencing homelessness, individuals living with disabilities, and others that reside in congregate settings. While some states, such as Connecticut, have been able to place a large number of individuals experiencing homelessness into hotels to ensure their safety through the worst of the pandemic, others have been slow to stand up such programs, in part because of financial constraints. The bill removes these constraints by providing 100 percent reimbursement of funds used for this purpose. As a result, states will be encouraged to ensure that individuals experiencing homelessness and other people living in congregate settings remain safe during the pandemic.
Read more about the FEMA PA Program and non-congregate sheltering at: https://bit.ly/33p83OX
Read the text of the FEMA Assistance Relief Act of 2020 at: https://bit.ly/33qmSRf