Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NJ) sent a joint letter to FEMA and HUD on September 29 regarding the failure of the agencies to implement proven disaster housing solutions and calling for the immediate implementation of such solutions in efforts to aid survivors of Hurricane Fiona.
The Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP) has been used following past disasters – including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, Ike, and Sandy – to provide low-income, displaced families with safe, decent, and affordable rental homes while they rebuild their lives and get back on their feet. DHAP provides displaced households with temporary rental assistance, covering the cost difference between what a family can afford to pay and their rent, capping this assistance at a reasonable amount. Over several months, families are required to pay a greater share of their rent to encourage and help prepare them to assume full responsibility for their housing costs at the end of the program. All families receiving DHAP rental assistance are provided wrap-around case management services to help them find permanent housing solutions, secure employment, and connect to public benefits. DHAP is administered through HUD’s existing network of local public housing agencies, which have significant local market knowledge and experience administering HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher program. Yet despite being supported by both Democratic and Republican administrations, the program has not been activated for recent major disasters, such as Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, Florence, Michael, Laura, or Delta.
When President Biden took office, progress began to be made on the creation of a program based on DHAP: the Disaster Assistance Supportive Housing Program (DASH). However, implementation of that program has stalled despite statements indicating that the program would be available by the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season. The letter sent by Senator Warren and Representative Espaillat is the latest call for the implementation of DASH, which has been a major advocacy priority for NLIHC’s Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition.
“By implementing DASH and ensuring supportive services reach the most marginalized communities, FEMA and HUD would advance the Biden administration’s effort to advance racial equity in disaster responses and provide disaster assistance where it is needed most,” reads the letter. “We recognize and appreciate your efforts on behalf of low-income disaster survivors. However, we urge you to immediately resume work to implement DASH and to activate the program in response to Hurricane Fiona.”
The letter requests a deadline for proposed implementation of October 12, 2022.
Read the letter at: https://bit.ly/3RqL0ce