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 certain individuals and households eligible for housing assistance in connection with a major disaster, including Hurricane Maria of 2017. To be eligible, an individual or household must be: (1) 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) renting a property located in the area for which the major disaster was declared but does not have a written lease for the rental.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) shall consider alternative forms of proof to determine the eligibility of an individual or household for 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 individuals and households displaced by any major disaster during 2017, and shall engage in consultations regarding the implementation of such program for future disasters.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2996 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2996

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 5, 2018

 Ms. Warren (for herself, Mr. Markey, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Merkley, Mr. 
   Durbin, Mr. Sanders, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Harris, and Mr. Casey) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
        Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the terms ``Agency'' and ``Administrator'' mean the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Administrator thereof, 
respectively.

SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR AND USE OF DISASTER HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Eligibility.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
individuals and households described in subsection (c) 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 by the 
President under section 401 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), 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 by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), 
including Hurricane Maria of 2017, the assistance may be used on behalf 
of an individual or household described in subsection (c) for costs 
relating to obtaining title for that individual or household to a 
property described in subsection (c)(1), which shall include the cost 
of land surveys and any other taxes or fees associated with transfer of 
the property.
    (c) Eligibility.--
            (1) In general.--With respect to a major disaster declared 
        by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford 
        Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), 
        an individual or household described in this subsection is an 
        individual or household who--
                    (A) 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
                    (B) is renting a property located in the area for 
                which the major disaster was declared but does not have 
                a written lease for the rental.
            (2) Consideration.--In making a determination of whether 
        occupancy or a rental tenancy exists for purposes of 
        subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1), the Administrator 
        shall consider a wide range of evidence that demonstrates the 
        existence of the occupancy or tenancy set forth in subsection 
        (d).
    (d) Alternative Forms of Proof.--
            (1) In general.--In determining if an individual or 
        household is eligible for housing assistance under subsection 
        (c), the Administrator shall consider a sworn and notarized 
        affidavit written by a licensed attorney that affirms the 
        occupancy or tenancy by the individual who owns, possesses, and 
        maintains the property 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 property.
                    (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 of 
                the individual.
                    (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 
                individual requesting assistance to the damaged 
                property.
                    (O) If records are unavailable due to damage from 
                the major 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 the individual.
            (2) Additional review.--The Administrator shall conduct an 
        additional review of any application for housing assistance 
        under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) that was--
                    (A) submitted before the date of enactment of this 
                Act; and
                    (B) 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 employees of the 
        Agency regarding the requirements set forth in this Act.

SEC. 4. FEMA DHAP AGREEMENTS.

    (a) 2017 Disasters.--Not later than 15 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator 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 individuals and households displaced from their 
residences by any major disaster declared by the President under 
section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) during 2017, including Hurricane Maria, 
including individuals and households eligible for such assistance under 
section 3(a) of this Act.
    (b) Future Disasters.--In the case of any major disaster declared 
by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) on or after the 
date of enactment of this Act, not later than 60 days after that 
declaration, the Administrator 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 individuals and households displaced from their 
residences by the major disaster, including individuals and households 
eligible for such assistance under section 3(a) of this Act.
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