Understand FEMA's Temporary Housing Assistance eligibility, appeal process, and the TSA program. Learn about disaster-related unlivability, displacement, and more.
By Murray Wennerlund, published , updated .
§ 206.101 Temporary housing assistance for emergencies and major disasters declared. 44 CFR 206.101
Eligibility for assistance is based on need created by disaster-related unlivability of a primary residence or other disaster-related displacement, combined with a lack of adequate insurance coverage.
Eligible applicants may be paid for authorized accommodations and/or repairs. In the interest of assisting the greatest number of people in the shortest possible time, applicants who are able to do so will be encouraged to make their own arrangements for temporary housing.
Although numerous instances of minor damage may cause some inconvenience to the applicant, the determining eligibility factor must be the livability of the primary residence.
FEMA has also determined that it is reasonable to expect applicants or their landlords to make some repairs of a minor nature.
Temporary housing will normally consist of a check to cover housing-related costs wherever possible.
Application period. The standard FEMA application period is the 60 days following the date the President declares an incident a major disaster or an emergency.
What are the eligibility criteria for FEMA's Temporary Housing Assistance and TSA program?
FEMA's Temporary Housing Assistance eligibility is based on disaster-related unlivability or displacement of a primary residence, combined with inadequate insurance coverage. Eligible applicants can receive paid accommodations or repairs. The FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program provides hotel stays for registered and qualified applicants.
