Gustav/Ike Families' Disaster Housing Assistance Deadline Looms

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reminds families that were impacted by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike that time is running out for them to apply for disaster housing assistance through the DHAP program.

The Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP-Ike/Gustav) was established by HUD and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist families who were displaced by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav with up to 17 months of temporary housing assistance. Since October 2008, FEMA has made direct payments to families to cover their rent payment if they have not completed the process for DHAP assistance.

These direct payments end right now. Families who have not responded to repeated requests from HUD or a local housing authority to participate in DHAP will be responsible for paying their rent beginning June 1st.

Approximately 7,000 families are eligible for continued rent assistance but have not responded to calls or letters to enroll in the program. Families who need this continued assistance are strongly urged to sign up by May 31st to allow housing authorities enough time to begin making rent payments for June.

HUD is encouraging families who received eligibility letters from FEMA and need this continued assistance to contact the public housing authority they were assigned or call toll-free HUD’s Referral Call Center at 1-866-785-3239.