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Harvey Survivors: HUD’s Top Priority

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released short, intermediate, and long-term efforts that are currently underway for Hurricane Harvey survivors.

As HUD continues to keep the lives and safety of all those affected by the devastation as its first priority, the Federal Department Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal, state, local, and tribal partners are all beginning to direct efforts towards recovery.

According to the release [1], “as part of FEMA’s comprehensive approach to meet the post-disaster intermediate housing needs caused by Hurricane Harvey, FEMA is considering all available housing options for survivors.”

In addition to current services to aid disaster survivors, HUD is implementing several housing activities. The short term include providing immediate housing for those who are eligible for FEMA assistance, FEMA pays the hotels and motels directly for this.

Faith-based agencies such as American Red Cross, AmeriCorps and other voluntary organizations are helping to clean out flood damage to homes, as well as providing emergency shelter to survivors. HUD is also immediately assisting those displaced from public housing and multifamily subsidized rental units. The FHA via Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae is providing a 90-day moratorium [2] on foreclosures and forbearance on foreclosures.

In the long term, HUD will provide FHA insurance to those affected by the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Borrowers could receive up to 100 percent financing to rebuild or rebuy.

You can read more about all the efforts HUD is taking to aid Harvey victims here [3].