Together, FEMA and Manufactured Housing Unit occupants continue to work towards finding permanent housing opportunities. MHUs serve as a temporary housing solution for eligible flood survivors. More than 3,300 households with over 10,000 survivors currently reside in MHUs. FEMA will support survivors in their continued need for temporary housing as long as they remain eligible.
Eligibility requirements and regulations governing temporary housing assistance is stated in the Code of Federal Regulations.
A revocable license was signed by an eligible occupant before they took occupancy.
Survivors agreed to these terms prior to taking occupancy and acknowledge that non-compliance could lead to losing continued eligibility to occupy an MHU.At no time is a tenant-landlord relationship established between FEMA and an occupant.This means FEMA may take back the unit if certain criteria are not met.MHU occupants must follow all rules stated in the revocable license upon taking responsibility of the unit.
Revocable licenses cannot be transferred or assigned except to another authorized occupant of the unit.While occupants are responsible for the unit, MHUs are government property.FEMA retains the right to control its use at all times.FEMA also retains the right to enter the unit to make inspections or repairs with 24-hour notice.No notice is required in an emergency.FEMA reserves the right to take possession of the unit if the occupant is non-compliant or in violation of the revocable license.Violations may result in penalty fees and or termination of the agreement.MHU occupants must fully cooperate with FEMA to schedule eligibility meetings.This includes allowing FEMA to visit damaged dwellings to view progress of repairs and discuss permanent housing plans.Occupants must provide FEMA a land owner’s right of entry for any private property site.The eligibility meetings are also to monitor progress of an occupants’ permanent housing plan.Evidence of progress may include receipts for repairs or a signed lease for new housing within a reasonable time frame.The Direct Housing Program is scheduled to end in February of 2018, but each applicant’s eligibility to remain in the program is determined on a case-by-case basis.
An occupant may be required to vacate the MHU prior to the ending of the direct housing program. FEMA may collect a fair market rent from the occupant if they remain in the unit after their eligibility expires. All occupants who remain in MHUs will be provided a 30-day notice of the requirement to pay monthly rent.FEMA provided MHUs to eligible applicants who were unable to find temporary housing while they work towards recovery efforts.
To further aid survivors in the permanent housing process, FEMA offered additional services.All MHUs were delivered and placed at the cost of FEMA.Utility fees and monthly services continue to be paid as a part of the partnership agreement.Units were fully furnished and move-in ready.Furnished MHUs ranged from one to three bedroom units, based on the pre-disaster household composition.Walkways, ramps and steps were built custom to the occupants needs.Units are equipped with a fire sprinkler system and are maintained by FEMA on a monthly basis to help save lives, prevent injuries and protect property.If survivors have questions about the revocable license they should contact their caseworker or the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY, at 800-462-7585.
