Kaine, Colleagues Renew Push to Support Survivors of Natural Disasters Following Hurricane Helene
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a former fair housing attorney, joined his colleagues in reintroducing the Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act, legislation that would streamline the housing assistance process to make it easier for people in communities affected by natural disasters to access financial support.
“I’ve seen firsthand the devastation that natural disasters like Hurricane Helene have caused in Virginia,” said Kaine. “While I’m relieved that my office has not been contacted in the wake of the storm by Virginians who have been turned away by FEMA because of property documentation issues, it’s important in the event of future disasters that we cut red tape that has kept other Americans from accessing crucial assistance. I hope my colleagues will join me in this effort to help Americans impacted by Hurricane Helene and other natural disasters get back on their feet.”
In the aftermath of natural disasters, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is forced to turn away eligible disaster survivors who are unable to present property titles, written leases, and other similar documents to show residency and occupancy of damaged property. This often leaves disaster survivors unable to access critical aid.
To ensure individuals are able to access lifesaving aid, the Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act would:
- Allow disaster relief funds to be used for the acquisition of a property title in regions where a natural disaster is declared by the President.
- Require FEMA to consider additional forms of evidence when determining assistance eligibility, including a utility bill, merchant statement, pay stub, current driver’s license or state-issued ID, property title or mobile home certificate of title, property tax receipt, school registration, a will and testament, a death certificate that established automatic transfer of ownership, medical records, a charitable donation receipt, or 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 applicable property.
- Require FEMA to create a declarative statement form that would allow a disaster relief applicant to self-certify eligibility for assistance.
- Allow individuals who have previously been denied assistance due to restrictive proof-of-ownership requirements to reopen cases and use new, expanded documentation to become eligible for assistance.
- Allow disaster relief funds to be used for repairs, not just rebuilding homes that have been rendered completely uninhabitable.
- Require FEMA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to engage in consultations regarding the implementation of a DHAP, or a similar joint program, within 60 days of a disaster declaration.
Virginians and businesses in the Commonwealth in need of hurricane relief assistance, including financial or in-person support, can find resources here.
This legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), George Helmy (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
The legislation is supported by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), UnidosUS, Hispanic Federation, and Americans for Financial Reform.
Full text of the Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act is available here.
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