Bill Overview
Title: Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2021
Description: This bill makes certain individuals and households eligible for housing assistance in connection with a major disaster, including Hurricane Maria of 2017. To be eligible, an individual or household must be (1) residing on property located in the area for which the major disaster was declared but does not have documented ownership rights to and is not renting such property, or (2) residing or have resided in an area for which the major disaster was declared during the designated incident period. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must consider alternative forms of proof to determine the eligibility of an individual or household for assistance. FEMA shall create and distribute a declarative form statement that applicants for assistance can use to self-certify eligibility for assistance and shall make the statement available in specified languages at all active Disaster Recovery Centers and on its website and social media. FEMA may provide financial assistance for repairs to ensure that residences are habitable during longer-term recovery and for permanent housing construction if the President determines that such assistance is a cost effective alternative to other housing solutions. FEMA shall conduct an analysis comparing the costs, benefits, and effectiveness of assistance provided under the Disaster Housing Assistance Program, including any case management services provided, with other temporary housing options provided by FEMA.
Sponsors: Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals and households impacted by major disasters
Estimated Size: 500000
- The bill targets survivors of major disasters who are in need of housing assistance.
- Eligibility criteria focus on those without documented ownership or rental agreements at the time of the disaster.
- The bill addresses past and future major disasters.
- Major disasters like Hurricane Maria affected a large population, particularly in Puerto Rico.
Reasoning
- The target population for this policy includes survivors of major disasters who lack proof of ownership or rental agreements.
- A significant portion of this population was affected by Hurricane Maria, particularly in Puerto Rico, where many informal housing arrangements exist.
- The budget is set to address immediate housing needs in the first year and provide substantial continued support over a decade.
- The policy aims to improve inclusiveness by recognizing alternative proofs of residency and providing longer-term housing solutions.
- Individuals who were living in affected areas without formal documentation of their housing rights often face long-term recovery challenges, which the policy seeks to alleviate.
- Given that there are around 500,000 targeted individuals in the U.S., efforts might include enhancing accessibility of forms and expanding multilingual support.
- The policy effectiveness relies on adequate distribution and awareness, affecting those with the least resources à the magnitude of improvement will vary.
Simulated Interviews
Retired (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a great relief for people like me who have been fixing their homes themselves.
- I think providing forms in Spanish and making them accessible is crucial.
- I am hopeful this will help me finally repair my home properly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Construction Worker (Houston, Texas)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have struggled after each hurricane to find stable housing.
- Getting help with housing repairs will allow me to save more.
- Tha program could also help reduce displacement in my community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Student (Bayamon, Puerto Rico)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This seems like a great initiative to help my family.
- With the right documents and help, we can access housing assistance.
- It's important to ensure these policies reach young people in situations like mine.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Hotel Manager (Miami, Florida)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I had to leave my informal home after Maria, and renting was tough.
- This policy opens doors to people in temporary situations like I was.
- It’s important to address the longer-term needs too - not just immediate measures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Self-employed (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My housing is often affected by floods, impacting my business too.
- While I don’t own a home, assistance in repairing damages would help.
- It’s beneficial for renters as it addresses structural issues caused by water damage.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired Fisherman (San Fernando, Puerto Rico)
Age: 72 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to repair assistance could mean having my home back.
- I'm grateful there's attention to issues like lack of documents.
- I hope most applications are approved quickly as the wait has been long.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Nurse (Jackson, Mississippi)
Age: 45 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Housing uncertainties increase stress for me and my family.
- Providing aid for home repairs can make my family’s life easier.
- Including non-traditional proof of housing is thoughtful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Teacher (Mobile, Alabama)
Age: 59 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My home often needs repairs after storms.
- The new policy could make these systematically dealt with.
- Accessing self-certification forms is potentially beneficial for our community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Freelancer (Newark, New Jersey)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I live stateside, my family could really benefit from this.
- It’s a chance to provide help and security from afar.
- Housing support is crucial for long-term well-being of my loved ones.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Waitress (Orlando, Florida)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This aid would have been essential during my initial resettlement.
- Identifying suitable long-term housing repairs could solve backlogs.
- I’m optimistic this opens doors for many in similar situations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $750000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 2: $750000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 3: $800000000 (Low: $550000000, High: $1050000000)
Year 5: $850000000 (Low: $600000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 10: $900000000 (Low: $650000000, High: $1150000000)
Year 100: $2000000000 (Low: $1500000000, High: $2500000000)
Key Considerations
- The scale of the disaster and affected population greatly influences costs.
- FEMA's new eligibility assessment procedures might lead to higher-than-anticipated enrollment.
- Structure and distribution challenges in less accessible areas can affect implementation efficiency.
- Potential need to secure additional funds over extended recovery periods.