The Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act: Explained

Overview: Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act

The Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act is a proposal to expand Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) housing assistance after a major disaster. It focuses on two practical issues: how you prove you own and live in a home when paperwork is missing, and how FEMA can support households when a home is damaged, even when it is not completely uninhabitable.

The bill would require FEMA to accept more types of proof of ownership and occupancy, and it would add an option for a signed statement under penalty of perjury when documents are not enough. It would also broaden housing assistance eligibility to include homes damaged by a major disaster and support repair or rebuild help in certain cost-effective situations.

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What Is the Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act?

The Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act would update FEMA housing assistance rules after a major disaster so more households can qualify and get help faster, especially when formal ownership paperwork is not available.

A major part of the bill is recognizing “constructive ownership” for FEMA aid purposes. In plain terms, the bill would treat an owner-occupied residence as eligible even when the homeowner cannot produce a traditional deed, as long as the available proof shows it is more likely than not that the homeowner owns the home.

Who Qualifies Under the Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act?

The bill is designed for households seeking FEMA housing assistance after a major disaster, including owner-occupants who may not have a deed in their name.

Under the proposal, assistance can go to owners without a deed when they show it is more likely than not that they own the home. That standard is meant to reflect real-life situations after disasters, when documents may be lost, destroyed, or never formally recorded in the way FEMA typically expects.

How The Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act Works

The Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act would change how FEMA reviews applications for housing help after a major disaster by expanding proof options and broadening what types of property damage can qualify.

Proof Of Ownership And Occupancy

The bill says FEMA must accept many kinds of proof that show you own and live in the home. Examples include:

• Property tax receipt
• Mortgage documents
• Homeowners insurance documents
• Receipts for repairs or home improvements

When documents do not fully cover what FEMA needs, the bill says FEMA may accept a signed statement under penalty of perjury. The bill also says FEMA cannot require that statement to be notarized. These updates are meant to make ownership and occupancy verification work for more real-world situations.

Expanded Help For Damaged Homes

The bill would expand FEMA housing assistance to include homes that are damaged by a major disaster, not only homes that are uninhabitable. This change matters because a home can be damaged in meaningful ways that still affect safe day-to-day living and the ability to recover, even when the home is not completely unlivable.

Repair Or Rebuild As An Alternative To Temporary Housing

The bill would allow repair or rebuild help when the President finds that repairing or rebuilding is a cost-effective alternative to other temporary housing options. This can support faster recovery by putting resources into making the home functional again, when that approach costs less than extended temporary housing.

When The Changes Would Apply

The bill says these changes apply to funds appropriated and applications received on or after the date the law is enacted. That timing determines which disaster recovery funding and applications fall under the updated rules.

Who Sponsors the Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act?

H.R. 426 is a House bill in the 119th Congress. Sponsor and cosponsor information will populate in the Bill Tracker as Congress.gov updates become available. For the latest legislative updates and cosponsors, see the Bill Tracker above.