HUD Provides Disaster Assistance for Hurricane-Affected Areas in Texas

• Author: Aubrey Sipes
• Posted: 2024-07-15

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced federal disaster assistance for Texas in response to July 2024's Hurricane Beryl. 

This move follows President Biden's major disaster declaration and targets counties ravaged by the hurricane from July 5 through July 9, 202, continuing thereafter.

HUD is responding swiftly with measures intended to aid recovery efforts for the residents of the impacted areas:
 

• HUD is issuing a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures for mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee program mortgages to Native American borrowers. This provision includes an automatic 90-day extension for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages, beginning from the date of the President's disaster declaration.
• HUD advises homeowners affected by the disaster to immediately contact their mortgage servicer for assistance. Those with conventional mortgages may also qualify for relief through their respective mortgage servicer.
• The FHA Resource Center stands ready to provide additional information and can be contacted at 1-800-304-9320. Homeowners can visit the FHA Disaster Relief site for further guidance.

HUD's interventions include making mortgage insurance available under its Section 203(h) program, which facilitates financing for homeowners to rebuild or replace their homes in full. 

The program, open to borrowers from participating FHA-approved lenders, offers 100 percent financing inclusive of closing costs.

Additionally, HUD's Section 203(k) loan program empowers individuals to finance either the purchase or refinancing of a house along with its rehabilitation through a single mortgage. Homeowners can also use this program to finance repairs on their current homes if damaged.

In a bid to keep all stakeholders informed, HUD will share information with FEMA and the State about housing providers with available units in the hit counties. This includes Public Housing Agencies and Multi-Family owners. 

Support extends to connecting FEMA and the State to HUD programs and providers' experts.

To support communities recovering from natural disasters, HUD is offering administrative flexibility to grantees of various community planning and development programs. These include the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, Housing Opportunities for Persons With HIV/AIDS (HOPWA) Program, and others. 

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Grantees seeking to apply for a waiver or suspension of program requirements can reach out to their local Community Planning and Development Program Office.

Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) impacted by the disaster can request necessary waivers and flexibilities for disaster relief and recovery. Details on waiver applications are available through the latest Federal Register Disaster Relief Notice guidance, and the process is streamlined through PIH Notice 2021-34. 

To be eligible for a disaster waiver, PHAs must be located within an active Presidential Major Disaster Declaration area and submit their request within four months of the disaster declaration.

Tribes and their designated housing entities can similarly seek needed administrative flexibility via regulatory waivers, contacting their local Office of Native American Programs or sending an email to Codetalk@hud.gov.

HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are primed to assist those affected by the disaster to assess assistance needs and available resources. 

These agencies offer services in over 200 languages and can be reached at 800 569-4287 or found online. These services are available without charge, and foreclose prevention counseling is likewise offered without a fee.

In the unfortunate event of housing discrimination, HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity is prepared to assist. Individuals who believe they have experienced such discrimination can file a complaint with HUD by calling 1-800-669-9777 or through HUD's website complaint form, available for those with limited English proficiency as well. 

For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 is available. The window for complaint filing is up to one year following the discriminatory act.

These measures underscore HUD's mission to establish strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality, affordable homes for all.

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