I have been asked to rent a unit to a household displaced by a disaster and they state they qualify for federal disaster assistance. What does that mean to me as the landlord?
Individuals and households impacted by major disasters may be eligible to apply for Individual Assistance (IA) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). If the household has qualified they should be able to provide written documentation from FEMA of their qualification. The Individual Assistance program provides $28,500 (2007 limits) to the household to pay for eligible expenses associated with the damaged residence. The household may use the funds to pay for temporary or transitional housing. The household may also use the funds to make repairs to the damaged unit or to replace items lost in the disaster. The household may also qualify for financial assistance through the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program for rebuilding expenses not covered by insurance or other FEMA programs. There is no requirement that the household must use any of the FEMA disaster assistance funds to pay for temporary or transitional housing, not any guarantee to the landlord
