Title: Housing Victims of Major Disasters Act of 2018
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:
Housing Victims of Major Disasters Act of 2018
This bill makes a family eligible for housing assistance in connection with a major disaster, including Hurricane Maria of 2017, if it: (1) is occupying an otherwise unused or uninhabited property located in the area for which the major disaster was declared but does not have documented ownership rights to, and is not renting, the property; or (2) is renting a property located in the area for which the major disaster was declared but does not have a written lease for such rental.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) shall consider a wide range of evidence in determining the eligibility of a family for housing assistance.
FEMA shall enter into agreements with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to implement a Disaster Housing Assistance Program to provide temporary rental assistance to families displaced by any major disaster during 2017, and shall consult on the implementation of the program for future disasters.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5474 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5474

 To make available necessary disaster assistance for families affected 
              by major disasters, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 11, 2018

 Mr. Espaillat (for himself, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Serrano, Miss Gonzalez-
Colon of Puerto Rico, Mr. Soto, Ms. Velazquez, Mrs. Murphy of Florida, 
 Mr. Vargas, Ms. Norton, Mr. Lawson of Florida, Ms. Wilson of Florida, 
Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Hastings, Ms. Shea-Porter, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. 
    Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, Mr. Raskin, and Mr. Huffman) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on 
 Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To make available necessary disaster assistance for families affected 
              by major disasters, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Housing Victims of Major Disasters 
Act of 2018''.

SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR AND USE OF DISASTER HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Eligibility.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a 
family described in subsections (c) and (d) shall be eligible for 
housing assistance made available under section 408 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) 
in connection with a major disaster declared pursuant to such Act, 
including Hurricane Maria of 2017.
    (b) Use.--In the case of any housing assistance described in 
subsection (a) that is made available in connection with a major 
disaster declared pursuant to such Act, including Hurricane Maria of 
2017, such assistance may be used on behalf of families described in 
subsection (c) for costs relating to obtaining title for such families 
to properties described in subsection (c)(1), which shall include costs 
of land surveys and any other taxes or fees associated with transfer of 
the property.
    (c) Eligibility.--With respect to a major disaster, a family 
described in this subsection is a family who--
            (1) is occupying an otherwise unused or uninhabited 
        property located in the area for which the major disaster was 
        declared but who does not have documented ownership rights to, 
        and is not renting the property; or
            (2) is renting a property located in the area for which the 
        major disaster was declared but does not have a written lease 
        for such rental.
In making a determination of whether occupancy or a rental tenancy 
exists for purposes of paragraphs (1) or (2), the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency (referred to in this Act as FEMA) 
shall consider a wide range of evidence that demonstrates the existence 
of such occupancy or tenancy set forth in subsection (d).
    (d) Alternative Forms of Proof.--
            (1) In general.--In determining if an individual or family 
        is eligible for housing assistance under subsection (c), the 
        Administrator shall consider a sworn and notarized affidavit 
        written by a licensed attorney that affirms such occupancy or 
        tenancy by the individual who owns, possesses, and maintains 
        the house or land and the presentation of one of the following 
        documents to affirm proof of ownership of the individual named 
        in the affidavit:
                    (A) A utility (gas, electric, or water) bill with 
                the name and address of the individual.
                    (B) A merchant's statement (credit card, delivery 
                notice, or first class mail) with the name and address 
                of the individual.
                    (C) A pay stub from an employer with the name and 
                address of the individual.
                    (D) A current driver's license or State-issued 
                identification card of the individual.
                    (E) The deed or title for the home or land.
                    (F) Mortgage payment booklet or other mortgage 
                documents.
                    (G) Property title of mobile home certificate of 
                title.
                    (H) Real estate property tax receipts.
                    (I) School registration for self, child, or 
                children.
                    (J) Will and testament with the name and address.
                    (K) Medical records that list the name and address 
                of the individual.
                    (L) Charitable donation receipts that list the name 
                and address of the individual.
                    (M) Government assistance documents.
                    (N) Any other documentation, certification, 
                identification, or proof of occupancy or ownership not 
                included on this list, that can reasonably link the 
                person requesting assistance to the damaged property.
                    (O) If records are unavailable due to damage from 
                the disaster or any other circumstance that impedes an 
                individual from providing proof of ownership, the 
                Administrator shall request verification from the State 
                or Federal agency with the written permission of the 
                individual or legally authorized representative of such 
                individual.
            (2) Additional review.--The Administrator shall review 
        again, any previous FEMA application submitted for housing 
        assistance that was denied in 2017 or 2018.
            (3) Notification of employees.--Not later than 7 days after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
        provide written notification and guidance to FEMA employees 
        regarding the requirements set forth in this Act.

SEC. 3. FEMA DHAP AGREEMENTS.

    (a) 2017 Disasters.--Not later than 15 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency shall enter into an interagency agreement or 
agreements with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as may 
be necessary to ensure the implementation of a Disaster Housing 
Assistance Program to provide temporary rental assistance to families 
displaced from their residences by any major disaster declared during 
2017 pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act, including Hurricane Maria of 2017, including families 
eligible for such assistance under section 2(a) of this Act.
    (b) Future Disasters.--In the case of any major disaster declared 
pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, not later than 60 days after such declaration the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall engage in 
consultations regarding the implementation of a Disaster Housing 
Assistance Program to provide temporary rental assistance to families 
displaced from their residences by the disaster, including families 
eligible for such assistance under section 2(a) of this Act.
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