FEMA Provides Rental Assistance Program for Displaced Indiana Residents
INDIANAPOLIS – Renters in Indiana whose homes and property were damaged by severe storms and tornadoes may be eligible for federal assistance through FEMA’s Individual and Households Program. The program aims to provide support to those affected by the storms and help them recover from the damages. The grants provided by FEMA do not need to be repaid, offering much-needed financial relief to eligible renters.
Under the program, eligible renters, including students whose homes or personal property were damaged or destroyed by the storms that occurred from March 31 to April 1, can receive various types of assistance. These include rental assistance for those who need to relocate due to storm damage, reimbursement for lodging expenses incurred while staying in a hotel temporarily, assistance to replace or repair necessary personal property such as furniture, appliances, clothing, textbooks, or school supplies, support for the replacement or repair of tools and job-related equipment required by self-employed individuals, and aid for primary vehicles necessary for school or work purposes.
To provide comprehensive information about FEMA’s renters’ assistance program, an American Sign Language video has been made available for viewing.
The Individual Assistance registration deadline is set for June 14, 2023. Survivors residing in Allen, Benton, Clinton, Grant, Howard, Johnson, Lake, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Sullivan, and White counties can register for assistance by visiting a Disaster Recovery Center. The location of nearby centers can be found on the FEMA website at fema.gov/drc.
For those who prefer to apply without visiting a center, alternative options are available. Applicants can call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, visit the website DisasterAssistance.gov, or utilize the FEMA App for the application process. Individuals using relay services such as video relay service (VRS) or captioned telephone service are advised to provide their contact information for that specific service to FEMA for seamless communication.
Additionally, FEMA may refer applicants to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which offers low-interest disaster loans to uninsured or underinsured businesses, homeowners, and renters. Submitting an application to the SBA also allows FEMA to consider applicants for additional grants, providing further assistance in their recovery journey.
FEMA is committed to its mission of helping people before, during, and after disasters. For more information on Indiana’s recovery efforts, individuals can visit fema.gov/disaster/4704. Stay updated by following FEMA on their Facebook page at Facebook.com/FEMA and on Twitter at @femaRegion5.
It is important to note that FEMA does not discriminate against individuals based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. The assistance is available to all eligible renters in need of support.
