Disaster Housing Assistance Program-Ike (DHAP-Ike) was created by FEMA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide emergency rental assistance for families displaced by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. FEMA determines the families that qualify for assistance.
The Houston Housing Authority is among a number of public housing authorities administrating the program for families that have been qualified by FEMA, to receive federal housing assistance available through March 2010.
The Houston Housing Authority is working with the Mayor's Office, Neighborhood Centers, Inc., Jefferson Wells International, Corporate Lodging Consultants and Allied Inspections & Consulting, LLC to administer the program locally to help families with rental assistance and case management services to rebuild their lives.
The Houston Housing Authority will work with families and landlords to enter into rental assistance contracts once families have been referred by FEMA and begin case management. The Houston Housing Authority has contracted with Corporate Lodging Consulting (CLC) to handle rent payments to landlords for the DHAP-Ike Program.
New landlords will have to register with CLC by visiting www.corplodging.com and are invited to attend Landlord Briefings at the DHAP Office to learn more about landlord and tenant responsibilities under the DHAP-Ike Program, and what they need to do in order to participate.
For DHAP-Ike Briefings, please visit: 9896 Bissonnet Street Suite 550 Houston, TX. 77036 Phone # 281.822.2100 Fax # 713.400.9149
The DHAP Office is located at: The Neighborhood Resource Center (NRC) 815 Crosby Street Houston, TX 77019 713.655.1940 (Office) 713.739.0052 (Fax) For directions to 815 Crosby St, Click Here
Q. What is the DHAP-Ike Program?
A: Disaster Housing Assistance Program-Ike (DHAP-Ike) was created by FEMA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide emergency rental assistance for families displaced by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. FEMA determines the families that qualify for assistance.
Q. How do families qualify for the DHAP-Ike program? A: FEMA is solely responsible for determining if the family is initially eligible to receive assistance under DHAP-Ike. Neither HUD nor the Houston Housing Authority can determine eligibility.
Q: Can families move to a new apartment under DHAP-Ike? A: Yes. The program will allow families participating in DHAP-Ike to move one time. This includes moving within Houston or moving to other cities within or outside of Texas. If the family is moving outside Houston, the destination city must have a Public Housing Authority.
Q: Are FEMA-program landlords required to participate in the DHAP-Ike program? A: No. FEMA-program landlords are not required to participate in the DHAP-Ike program. If a landlord chooses not to participate in the program, the family must move to a new property.
Q: What will landlords need to do to facilitate the transition to DHAP-Ike? A: The transition to DHAP will require landlords to complete four tasks:
Register in Corporate Lodging Consultants Inc. (CLC) website for prospective tenants at www.corplodging.com. Visit this site for CLC Registration instructions.
Q: Who is responsible for collecting the tenant co-payments once they go into effect? A: Landlords will be responsible for collecting all co-payments directly from their tenants each month.
Q: Can landlords request a rent-increase during the DHAP-Ike program? A: Yes. However, landlords should be aware that any request for a rent-increase will be subject to rent reasonableness.
Q: What is the Disaster Housing Assistance Program-Ike (DHAP-Ike)? A : Disaster Housing Assistance Program-Ike (DHAP-Ike) was created by FEMA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide emergency rental assistance for families displaced by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. FEMA determines the families that qualify for assistance.
Q: Who determines DHAP-Ike families eligible for assistance? A: FEMA is solely responsible for determining if the family is initially eligible to receive assistance under DHAP-Ike. Neither HUD nor the Houston Housing Authority can determine eligibility.
Q: If my landlord does not want to participate in the DHAP-Ike program, can I continue to receive DHAP-Ike assistance while living at that residence? A: If your landlord chooses not to participate, then you cannot continue to live at your residence and still have your rent paid through the program. You will have to find an apartment that participates in the DHAP-Ike program or you will not have your rent paid for you. The DHAP-Ike Center staff has plans to provide assistance, if needed, to help you to find a place to relocate so that you will not lose your rent benefit. However, it is ultimately your responsibility to find a place to relocate.
Additionally, if eligible applicants actively seek and find housing prior to contact from the Houston Housing Authority, in a unit that currently is not listed, call HUD's Referral Call Center 1-866-373-9509 to let them know. Registering is a simple process that offers the landlord incentives to participate. Landlords can go to the HUD Web site at http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/publications/ike.cfm for a sample rental agreement. For rental rates, landlords can contact the Houston Housing Authority at (713) 655-1940.
Q: When does the program start? A: FEMA has extended the deadline to February 6, 2009 for families and individuals to verify their eligibility for the DHAP-Ike Program. Families in need of assistance must register with FEMA by call 1-800-621-FEMA (3363) or on-line at www.FEMA.gov.
Q: When does the program end & what happens after that? A: The DHAP-Ike program will pay your full rent benefits through April 2009. Beginning May 1, 2009, families will have to pay $50 per month. Every month, thereafter, the family's portion of the rent will increase in increments of $50 until the program ends in March 2010. For example, families can expect to pay $100 in June 2009, then $150 in July 2009, and so on, until the end of the program on March 13, 2010
Q: What if I can't pay my share of the rent after April 2009? A: Under the terms and conditions of the DHAP program, HUD and its contractor can disqualify you from the program if you do not fulfill your responsibilities under the program. This includes paying your share of the rent. If you break the terms of your lease with the landlord or do not pay your rent on time, your landlord may start an eviction action against you.
Q: Will HUD be handling the DHAP-Ike program locally? A: HUD will oversee the program and will contract the local rent payment responsibilities to a public housing authority. The Houston Housing Authority is among a number of public housing agencies that will administer the program in the Houston area, but FEMA will still be the agency to decide who is eligible for the program.
Q: If a family refuses to participate in case management services, are they still eligible for DHAP-Ike assistance? A: No. If the family refuses case management services, the Houston Housing Authority must inform the family that they will not be able to participate in DHAP-Ike. Additionally, the Houston Housing Authority must request a signed and dated statement acknowledging the family understands that as a result of their refusal to comply with these requirements, the family may not participate in DHAP-Ike or any other FEMA housing program.
Q: Can a family rent a unit under DHAP-Ike where the rent exceeds the monthly rent subsidy? A: Yes, however, in such cases the family is responsible for covering the portion of the rent that exceeds the monthly rent subsidy. Tenants are also responsible for any utility costs that are not included in the rent under the lease.
Q: What steps should the Houston Housing Authority take if the family wishes to move to another unit, or the owner does not want to participate in DHAP-Ike (or the owner will not take steps to bring the unit up to compliance)? A: The Houston Housing Authority will inquire if the family wishes to move to another unit in the Houston Housing Authority's jurisdiction, move back to the pre-disaster jurisdiction, or another jurisdiction to receive DHAP-Ike assistance. If family wishes to remain in the Houston Housing Authority's jurisdiction, the family will be provided with housing search assistance. If the family wishes to move to a different jurisdiction, the Houston Housing Authority is responsible for identifying the DHAP-Ike administering Public Housing Authority. Additionally, eligible applicants can live in a community outside of the disaster area and DHAP-Ike will subsidize their rent anywhere in the United States. If housing resources become available a year from now, applicants can move back to the area if suitable housing is available.
Q: Can a DHAP-Ike eligible family live in a unit owned by a relative? A: If the owner of the property is a parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sister, or a brother of any member of the family, then the DHAP-Ike eligible family may not reside in the unit and receive DHAP-Ike assistance. However, if the Houston Housing Authority determines that approving the unit, notwithstanding such relations, would provide reasonable accommodation for a family member who is a person with disabilities.
Q: Does DHAP-Ike provide security deposit assistance? A: Yes. Security deposit assistance is provided assuming the family has asked for it and certifies that the assistance is needed. Once completed, the Houston Housing Authority may make payment directly to the landlord on behalf of the family. The security deposit is limited to applicable Fair Market Rent (FMR) for the unit published in the area. However, the landlord is not limited to the FMR and request a higher amount. In this instance, the difference in allowable amount must come from other sources (i.e. the family). Once the family vacates the unit, the owner must return the money to the Houston Housing Authority less any amounts the owner could retain under the terms of the lease and state and local laws.
Q: Does DHAP-Ike provide utility deposit assistance? A: Yes. Utility deposit assistance, including connection fees, is provided for families assuming they have asked for it, and certified that they are in need of assistance. The maximum utility deposit is limited to $400 for the family. The Houston Housing Authority may pay the utility deposit assistance directly to the utility companies or may pay the assistance to the family, provided the Houston Housing Authority verifies the family paid the utility deposit.
Q: If the family composition changes after Nov. 1, does FEMA approve the change in family composition? A: Assuming the Head-of Household as designated by FEMA remains in the family, FEMA does not approve a subsequent change in family composition. If the family member designated as the Head-of-Household dies or otherwise leaves the DHAP-Ike, the remaining family members may be still eligible for continued DHAP-Ike assistance. At least one remaining family member must have been part of the family originally determined eligible by FEMA (as evidenced by the original family record in DIS) and must have legal capacity to enter a lease under state and local law. If these conditions are met, the Houston Housing Authority will continue to assist the family. However, if none of the original family members have such legal capacity under state and local law, the family is not eligible for continued DHAP-Ike rental assistance. Should the family wish to add a new member with legal capacity to enter into a lease; the Houston Housing Authority will report the proposed change in family composition to HUD by contacting HUD. HUD in turn will contact FEMA to make the final determination as to whether the family, with such a change in composition, is eligible for continued assistance under DHAP-Ike. FEMA will advise the family of the final determination and HUD will advise the Houston Housing Authority of the FEMA determination. The new family member with legal capacity must agree to and follow the family obligations. Q: Is the Houston Housing Authority required to conduct a full or limited HQS inspection of an eligible DHAP-Ike unit? A: The Houston Housing Authority, initially, must conduct a limited inspection to ensure the unit's current condition does not contain any life-threatening deficiencies.
Q: How does the Houston Housing Authority determine a family's continued eligibility for DHAP-Ike assistance after July 31, 2009? A: The family must demonstrate that their current housing costs exceed 30 percent of their current monthly income as required by FEMA. The Houston Housing Authority will use the family's annual income divided by 12.
Housing costs are defined as: · Current rent for the DHAP-Ike unit in which the family is residing · Mortgage payments, if any, on the family's primary pre-disaster residence, including principal, interest, real estate taxes, real property insurance and the cost of utilities
To Remain DHAP-Ike Eligible: · Tenants must abide by the terms of the lease and maintain the unit in good condition · Tenants must participate in case management services
· When Incremental Rent Transition (IRT) begins, tenants must agree to pay their portion of rent on time and in full
· Tenants must accurately and honestly certify the receipt of benefits from either U.S. Small Business Administration loans, insurance proceeds or any other duplication of benefits
For questions or more information about DHAP-Ike, contact HUD's Referral Call Center (RCC) between 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. at 1-866-785-3239 or 1-866-373-9509, or visit www.hud.gov/offices/pih/publications/ike.cfm.