Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill allows people without formal property deeds to qualify for FEMA disaster assistance. Many families live in homes passed down through generations without legal paperwork, and this change would let them access federal rebuilding funds by proving "constructive ownership" through alternative documents.
• FEMA would accept a wide range of documents as proof of residence or ownership, including utility bills, pay stubs, school records, medical records, driver's licenses, and charitable donation receipts. This makes it far easier for people in informal housing situations to get help after disasters.
• The bill creates a simple self-certification form that FEMA must distribute within 30 days of enactment. The form must be available in English and Spanish, cannot require notarization, and is exempt from the usual federal paperwork approval process to speed things up.
• The changes apply retroactively to disasters going back to January 1, 2017, meaning people denied aid after events like Hurricane Maria could reopen their cases. They would get at least 180 days to submit new paperwork after being notified of their right to appeal.
• The bill expands eligibility to include people experiencing homelessness and those in all types of housing, including mobile homes, bunkhouses, and travel trailers. It also shifts FEMA's repair standard from restoring homes to a minimal safe condition to making them "habitable during longer term recovery."
• Within 60 days of any future major disaster declaration, FEMA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development must consult on setting up joint rental assistance programs for displaced families, improving coordination between the two agencies.

Votes

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Related Bills

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