General Updates
- Letter Urging Public Input in PR. NLIHC, other national advocates, and local organizations in Puerto Rico sent a letter to Governor Rosselló and HUD Secretary Carson expressing their concern about the lack of opportunity for community input on long-term disaster recovery plans. While public meetings were held, the events failed to provide key stakeholders an opportunity to fully have their voices heard. The letter urges HUD and the Puerto Rican government to ensure additional opportunities for public consultation occur`.
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
FEMA
October Wildfires
By the Numbers: (as of 3/28)
- 4,482 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $15,640,240 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $9,557,531 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $6,082,709 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $263,255,541 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $261,599,046 Emergency Work (Categories A-B) obligated**
- $216,120 Permanent Work (Categories C-G) obligated**
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the state via electronic transfer following FEMA’s final review and approval of Public Assistance projects
December Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris Flows
By the Numbers: (as of 3/28)
- 689 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $4,203,862 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $3,622,780 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $581,082 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $80,575,526 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated, all for emergency work (Categories A-B)**
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the state via electronic transfer following FEMA’s final review and approval of Public Assistance projects
Local Perspectives
- Sonoma Rental Prices. The October wildfires destroyed more than 5,000 residential units in Sonoma County alone, an area that already had limited affordable housing options. Public officials are working on speeding up the recovery process but face a worker shortage and community resistance to increasing density. As a result, rental prices have increased by 30%, and some renters have been forced to leave because landlords need homes for themselves.
HURRICANE MARIA
FEMA
Puerto Rico
By the Numbers: (as of 3/28)
- 444,836 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $1,093,231,655 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $600,629,656 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $492,601,998 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $1,329,295,511 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $1,311,295,511 Emergency Work (Categories A-B) obligated**
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the state via electronic transfer following FEMA’s final review and approval of Public Assistance projects.
U.S. Virgin Islands
By the Numbers: (as of 3/28)
- 10,976 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $38,929,181 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $26,828,934 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $12,100,247 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $442,712,231 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $431,826,605 Emergency Work (Categories A-B) obligated**
- $3,472,078 Permanent Work (Categories C-G) obligated**
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the state via electronic transfer following FEMA’s final review and approval of Public Assistance projects.
Local Perspectives
- Unequal Response. Politico released a troubling story that demonstrates how the Trump administration’s disaster recovery efforts differed following Hurricanes Harvey and Maria. From the FEMA staff assigned to the disaster to the rate of individual assistance approvals, the administration has favored Texas over Puerto Rico in virtually every step of recovery. The detailed report provides specific examples of this troubling pattern.
- Orlando MARC. The Orlando Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC), which serves those impacted by Hurricane Maria passing through or relocating to Florida, will close on Friday, March 30.
HURRICANE IRMA
FEMA
Florida
By the Numbers: (as of 3/28)
- 773,357 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $995,757,318 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $689,660,739 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $306,096,580 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $26,767,799 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $13,476,852 Emergency Work (Categories A-B) obligated**
- $921,650 Permanent Work (Categories C-G) obligated**
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the state via electronic transfer following FEMA’s final review and approval of Public Assistance projects
Georgia
By the Numbers: (as of 3/28)
- 9,377 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $13,455,549 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $9,953,061 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $3,502,489 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $10,752,026 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $4,968,554 Emergency Work (Categories A-B) obligated**
- $5,142,596 Permanent Work (Categories C-G) obligated**
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the state via electronic transfer following FEMA’s final review and approval of Public Assistance projects.
Puerto Rico
By the Numbers: (as of 3/28)
- 1,471 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $7,802,174 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $6,189,014 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $1,613,160 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $4,219,673 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated, all for emergency work (Categories A-B)**
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the state via electronic transfer following FEMA’s final review and approval of Public Assistance projects.
U.S. Virgin Islands
By the Numbers: (as of 3/28)
- 8,529 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $35,296,490 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $25,170,493 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $10,125,998 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $6,997,579 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $6,743,846 Emergency Work (Categories A-B) obligated**
- $231,188 Permanent Work (Categories C-G) obligated**
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the state via electronic transfer following FEMA’s final review and approval of Public Assistance projects.
Local Perspectives
- Lack of Housing. According to NLIHC’s The Gap report, Orlando ranked third nationally for its shortage of affordable housing. The housing market will only become tighter and less affordable following Hurricanes Irma and Maria as survivors look to relocate.
HURRICANE HARVEY
FEMA
Texas
By the Numbers: (as of 3/28)
- 371,914 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $1,585,955,642 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $1,199,520,689 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $386,434,953 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $633,026,626 Total Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated**
- $569,105,202 Emergency Work (Categories A-B) obligated**
- $983,299 Permanent Work (Categories C-G) obligated**
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the state via electronic transfer following FEMA’s final review and approval of Public Assistance projects.
Local Perspectives
- Harvey’s Impact on Immigrants. The Kaiser Family Foundation and the Episcopal Health Foundation released a report detailing how Hurricane Harvey affected the lives of migrants/immigrants along the Texas Gulf Coast. Immigrants have more precarious financial and social circumstances than native-born residents--with 70% of immigrants saying they have little to no support system and more than half living well below the federal poverty level. Immigrant residents reported higher rates of loss of income or employment and were generally less likely to seek help following the storm.