December 20, 2018

Today Representative Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District announced introduction of the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP) Accountability Act. The DHAP Accountability Act directs the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to work with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish pilots in recent federal disaster areas to provide housing and case management service to disaster survivors. 

“Recent storms and wildfires have left more than a million homes damaged, and exacerbating housing shortages in communities from the Caribbean to California,” said Rep. Titus, Ranking Member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. “FEMA has been unwilling to utilize the tools we have to help the most vulnerable of disaster survivors. The DHAP Accountability Act takes on this challenge to help survivors get back on their feet without having to worry about living with no roof over their heads.” 

Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, damaging over one million homes. Up to 20,000 people became homeless in the Florida Panhandle following Hurricane Michael. Hurricanes Florence and Harvey damaged tens of thousands of homes in both Texas and North Carolina. The recent fires in California damaged more than 12,000 homes, resulting in tent cities popping up in parking lots.

A 2011 Inspector General Report pointed to a number of concerns about the DHAP under the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The DHAP Accountability Act addresses these concerns and directs FEMA to establish a minimum of three agreements with other Federal agencies to provide housing and case management services to disaster survivors, including at least one in the U.S. Territories. FEMA must ensure the program is cost-effective and the other Federal agencies must provide detailed data sufficient for FEMA to conduct a cost-benefit analysis at the end of the pilot programs and make comparisons to FEMA’s other housing options. FEMA must also provide a report to Congress.

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