Bill Overview
Title: Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2022
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 or otherwise occupying 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 in or occupying, or have resided in, an area for which the major disaster was declared during the designated incident period, including individuals experiencing homelessness. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must consider alternative forms of proof to determine the eligibility of an individual or household for assistance. In the case of an individual or household that does not have documented ownership rights in the predisaster primary residence, FEMA must consider evidence of constructive ownership. 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 shall conduct an analysis comparing the costs, benefits, and effectiveness of assistance provided under the Disaster Housing Assistance Program with other temporary housing options provided by FEMA. FEMA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development must consult regarding the implementation of a disaster housing assistance program or similar joint program.
Sponsors: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Target Audience
Population: People affected by major disasters needing housing assistance
Estimated Size: 500000
- The bill is aimed at providing housing assistance to individuals affected by major disasters, like Hurricane Maria in 2017.
- To qualify, individuals should be living in disaster-declared areas without formal property ownership or rental agreements.
- The bill also includes individuals who, at the time of the disaster, were homeless.
- FEMA is required to accept alternative forms of ownership proof for those affected.
- The goal is to broaden the accessibility of disaster relief housing to undocumented or otherwise unrecognizable property occupants after disasters.
Reasoning
- The policy is designed to assist people who were in areas severely affected by major disasters, understanding that many might not have official documentation of their living arrangements.
- Considering the large number of people potentially affected by disasters like Hurricane Maria, it is important to simulate a wide range of interviewees, including those unimpacted by the policy.
- The budget of the policy indicates that it intends to provide substantial support over several years, but it will still need to prioritize among various potential beneficiaries.
- The policy's acceptance of alternative proof of ownership should help those living in informal housing or situations previously unrecognized for aid, impacting their wellbeing positively.
- Including people not directly affected helps provide perspective on the reach and limitations of the policy.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (Puerto Rico)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy finally acknowledges that people like me exist. I hope it really considers informal living situations so we don't keep falling through the cracks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Retired (Florida)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any help to get my home livable again would mean a lot, especially since I have nowhere else to go.
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 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Software Engineer (California)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a well-intentioned policy, but I'm not sure such large expenditures can reach everyone effectively. I'm glad I don't have to rely on it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Small Business Owner (Puerto Rico)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If this policy can help stabilize housing, maybe I can focus on rebuilding my business. Right now, everything is uncertain.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Unemployed (Texas)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I really hope this works. Getting some sort of stable place to live would be a game-changer.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 1 |
Nurse (New York)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is good, but I am concerned whether resources will actually reach family members back home in Puerto Rico.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
College Student (Mississippi)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Temporary housing support will allow me to focus on my studies instead of constantly worrying about where I'll sleep next week.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Software Developer (Texas)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Assistance for repair work is desperately needed to restore normalcy. The policy sounds promising if implemented well.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Construction Worker (Louisiana)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry if support will be enough to cover repairs. A lot of people are still recovering from past hurricanes.
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 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Freelance Writer (Georgia)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I hope the policy works well and reaches the right people, my concern is for the long-term sustainability of such programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 2: $1050000000 (Low: $850000000, High: $1250000000)
Year 3: $1100000000 (Low: $900000000, High: $1300000000)
Year 5: $1200000000 (Low: $1000000000, High: $1400000000)
Year 10: $1500000000 (Low: $1300000000, High: $1700000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The inclusion of undocumented property occupants and homeless individuals broadens the pool of eligible applicants, increasing program costs.
- Administrative expenses for validating alternative forms of ownership and implementing the new assistance programs.
- Potential long-term savings in social services owing to better stability for disaster-affected individuals.